Question

What events led Napoleon III to declare war on Prussia

Answer 1

Events that led Napoleon III to declare war on Prussia

• After the Austro-Prussian War, Prussia had annexed many states of North Germany and formed North German Federation.

• Prussia also wanted to annex South German states to which idea France opposed greatly.

• In Prussia, for rousing German nationalism so that Germany voiced for unification, a war with France was essential.

• The immediate cause of war was the successor to throne in Spain.

• France feared that Spain and Prussia would form an alliance and pressurized the withdrawal of the candidacy of the prince.

• Bismark goaded the 'French' into declaring 'war' by sending an altering telegram sent by William I.

Answer 2

Bismarck created an excuse to attack France by pressing and releasing a telegram that made it see William I had insulted the Frenchman. Furious, Napoleon III declared war on Prussia, as Bismarck had hoped.