Bismarck engineers another war in 1870, this time against France.

The conflict will become known to history as the Franco-Prussian War.

Nationalistic fervor is ignited by the promised annexation of Lorraine and Alsace, which had belonged to the Holy Roman Empire and had been seized by France in the seventeenth century.

With this goal in sight, the south German states eagerly join in the war against the country that has come to be seen as Germany's traditional enemy.

Bismarck's major war aim—the voluntary entry of the south German states into a constitutional German nation-state—occurs during the patriotic frenzy generated by stunning military victories against French forces in the fall of 1870.

Months before a peace treaty is signed with France in May 1871, a united Germany is established as the German Empire, and the Prussian king, Wilhelm I, is crowned its emperor in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

The rise of Prussia during the 1860s threatens the supremacy of its neighbor France in western Europe.

Napoleon III, growing steadily weaker in body and mind, has badly mishandled the situation, and eventually finds himself in a war without allies.

Britain is afraid of French militarism and refuses to help.

Russia is highly annoyed about French interference in supporting Polish rebels in the 1863 uprising.

Napoleon had given strong support to Italy, but had refused the demand for Rome, and keeps French troops in Rome to protect the Pope from the new Italian government, thus leading to Italian refusal to help.

The United States remains alienated because of the fiasco in Mexico.

Napoleon does not know what he wants or what to do, but the reverse is true for Prussian Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck, who plans to create a great new German nation, based on Prussian power, as well as resurgent German nationalism based on the systematic humiliation of France.

The immediate issue is a trivial controversy regarding control of the Spanish throne.

France is actually successful in the diplomatic standoff, but Napoleon wants to humiliate the Prussian king, Wilhelm I.

Bismarck in turn manipulates the situation such that France declares war against Prussia on July 15, 1870, thus sparking the Franco-Prussian War.

The smaller German states rallied behind Prussia, while the large French army proves to be poorly armed, poorly trained, and, led by the Emperor himself, very poorly commanded.

In a matter of weeks the French army is surrounded and forced to surrender after the Battle of Sedan.

Napoleon himself becomes a prisoner and Republican forces quickly take control of Paris.

France under the leadership of Léon Gambetta declares the establishment of the Third French Republic.

Napoleon and Eugénie go into exile in England.

Victory produces an onrush of German nationalism upon which Bismarck immediately seizes to unite all of the German states (except Austria), thereby creating the German Empire, with the Prussian king as its Emperor and Bismarck as Chancellor.

The new Germany is now continental Europe's dominant military force.

Additionally, France is forced to give up the two border provinces of Alsace and Lorraine, and its humiliation will last for generations.

Atlantic West Europe (1864–1875): Industrial Maturity, National Conflicts, and Social Reform

From 1864 to 1875, Atlantic West Europe—including northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and the Atlantic and English Channel coasts—entered a crucial phase marked by sustained industrial maturity, increased national tensions culminating in the Franco-Prussian War, significant urban and social transformations, and the emergence of deeper political divisions driven by class, religion, and nationalism.

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Political and Military Developments

The Franco-Prussian War (1870–1871)

• The era’s defining political event was the Franco-Prussian War, triggered in part by France’s ambitions under Napoleon III and manipulated by Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck to unify Germany.

• France’s devastating defeat, highlighted by Napoleon III’s capture at the Battle of Sedan (1870), ended the Second French Empire and led to the proclamation of the Third French Republic.

• The humiliating loss and subsequent occupation by Prussian troops, including parts of northern France, profoundly impacted French national identity and political stability.

Emergence of the French Third Republic

• The newly established Third Republic (1870) began navigating internal political instability, social tensions, and lingering monarchist aspirations. Under Adolphe Thiers and later Patrice de MacMahon, the republic struggled to consolidate its institutions and heal national divisions.

Belgium: Stability amid Neutrality and Reform

• Belgium, under King Leopold II (r.1865–1909), continued its policy of neutrality but faced growing internal tensions between liberals and Catholics. Electoral reforms expanded suffrage modestly, setting the stage for future democratization.

• Leopold II began focusing on overseas ambitions in Africa, laying early foundations for Belgian colonialism.

Netherlands and Luxembourg: Liberal Reforms and Stability

• The Netherlands under King William III remained politically stable, with liberal parliamentary forces pushing progressive reforms in education, infrastructure, and public administration.

• Luxembourg, following the Luxembourg Crisis of 1867, was reaffirmed as an independent and perpetually neutral state, ending previous Dutch sovereignty, and entering a new era of political autonomy.

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Economic Developments: Industrial Consolidation and Growth

Post-War Economic Resilience in France

• Despite political turmoil, northern French industry rapidly recovered after the Franco-Prussian War. Cities such as Lille, Roubaix, Dunkirk, and Le Havre continued to expand, driven by textiles, steel production, shipbuilding, and railways.

• The Suez Canal’s opening (1869), though geographically distant, enhanced French maritime trade routes, indirectly benefiting Atlantic ports.

Belgian Industrial Strength and Expansion

• Belgium sustained significant industrial growth, particularly in iron, coal, and textiles. Antwerp continued its ascent as a major global trade hub, while Wallonia’s steel and coal production surged, powering broader economic expansion.

Dutch Maritime Commerce and Industrial Diversification

• The Netherlands experienced continued growth in maritime commerce, shipbuilding, and agricultural exports. Rotterdam emerged as a vital port city, increasingly surpassing Amsterdam as the nation’s primary commercial gateway.

• New industrial sectors developed, including chemical manufacturing, textiles, and machinery production, enhancing economic diversification and resilience.

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Social Developments: Labor Activism and Urbanization

Labor Movements and the Paris Commune (1871)

• In France, profound social tensions emerged after the Franco-Prussian War, notably culminating in the revolutionary uprising known as the Paris Commune (March–May 1871), reflecting urban working-class dissatisfaction, socialist aspirations, and republican ideals.

• Although brutally suppressed by government forces, the Commune deeply influenced European socialist thought and labor movements, inspiring workers and radical intellectuals across Atlantic West Europe.

Belgian and Dutch Labor Activism

• Belgium experienced significant labor activism, particularly in industrial regions such as Liège, Antwerp, and Ghent, with workers demanding improved working conditions, higher wages, and political representation.

• In the Netherlands, the rise of trade unions and early socialist movements, especially in urban centers such as Rotterdam and Amsterdam, signaled a gradual but increasing demand for social reform.

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Cultural and Intellectual Developments

Realism and Naturalism in Literature and Art

• Cultural life remained profoundly shaped by realism and emerging naturalism, notably in France, through writers like Émile Zola, whose works (beginning with Thérèse Raquin, 1867) highlighted the stark realities of industrial urban life and social inequalities.

• Painters such as Édouard Manet and early Impressionists challenged traditional academic art, focusing instead on modern urban experiences and candid portrayals of daily life, reshaping artistic expression throughout Europe.

Advancements in Science and Technology

• Significant advancements occurred in industrial technology, chemistry, medicine, and sanitation. These improvements supported rapid urban growth and increased industrial productivity, notably through innovations in steel production and public health infrastructure.

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Religious Developments

Continued Secularization and Religious Conflict

• Secularization intensified, particularly in France, where the Catholic Church's political influence was increasingly challenged by republican governments and secular intellectuals.

• Belgium continued experiencing significant tensions between Catholic conservatives and liberal secularists, particularly over educational reforms and church-state relations, shaping the country's long-term political landscape.

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Urbanization and Social Dynamics

Accelerated Urban Growth and Infrastructure

• Urbanization accelerated dramatically, driven by industrial expansion and rural migration. Major cities—Paris, Lille, Roubaix, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Brussels, and Amsterdam—expanded rapidly, investing significantly in urban infrastructure, public transportation, and sanitation systems.

Deepening Class Divisions

• Economic prosperity was unevenly distributed, deepening class divides. Wealthier merchant and industrialist classes thrived, especially in urban centers, while industrial workers faced difficult living conditions and periodic unemployment, fueling labor unrest and demands for reform.

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Long-Term Consequences and Historical Significance

The era 1864–1875 represented a crucial phase in Atlantic West Europe’s historical trajectory:

• Politically, the fall of Napoleon III and the establishment of the Third Republic reshaped France’s internal dynamics and European alliances, profoundly influencing subsequent geopolitical alignments.

• Economically, the region demonstrated resilience and sustained industrial maturity, firmly integrating into global trade networks and setting foundations for late 19th-century prosperity.

• Socially, intensified labor activism, epitomized by the Paris Commune, revealed growing class tensions and demands for political and social reforms that would drive subsequent European socialist and democratic movements.

• Culturally, realism and emerging naturalism influenced European literature, art, and intellectual thought, reflecting a deeper engagement with social realities and the complexities of modern industrial life.

By 1875, Atlantic West Europe had emerged from a turbulent decade politically transformed, economically vibrant, socially dynamic, and culturally influential—poised for continued prominence in the rapidly modernizing Europe of the late 19th century.

The Prussians begin pounding Paris with artillery on January 5.

Bismarck meanwhile persuades all the German rulers to join a new German Empire under the king of Prussia as the German emperor.

Bismarck brings the king of Prussia to the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles and formally proclaims Wilhelm I Emperor of Germany on January 18, 1871.

The government in Paris concludes an armistice with Bismarck on January 28, 1871, giving the French nation three weeks in which to choose, via an elected national assembly, war or peace.

The February elections, following which Adolphe Thiers is chosen leader of the National Assembly, mandate a majority in favor of peace.

The preliminary peace treaty between the German Empire and France is concluded on February 26; the latter is to cede Alsace and most of Lorraine and to pay five billion francs indemnity, an unprecedentedly large sum.

Léon Gambetta leaves office in March upon France’s acceptance of Germany’s humiliating peace terms.

Parisians, furious at the national government’s capitulation, react to the government’s seemingly anti-Parisian acts by erecting an independent revolutionary municipal government, the Paris Commune, and calling on other French cities to follow the Parisian example.

Russian diplomatic and military interests subsequently turn to the East.

Russian troops occupy Turkmen lands on the Iranian and Afghan borders, raising British concerns, but German support of Russian advances averts a possible Anglo-Russian war.

The Bulgarians become angry with Russia's continuing interference in Bulgarian affairs and seek support from Austria.

In turn, Germany, displaying firmness toward Russia, protects Austria from the tsar while mollifying him with a bilateral defensive alliance, the Reinsurance Treaty of 1887 between Germany and Russia.

Within a year, Russo-German acrimony will lead to Bismarck's forbidding further Russian loans, and France will replace Germany as Russia's financier.