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| | Prior to the 1800s, strongly independent nations had not yet arisen in continental Europe (Europe other than Britain). The Holy Roman Empire held much power until the Reformation in the 1500s, and even afterward. The Hapsburg ruling family was a powerful ruling dynasty throughout Europe, especially in Austria where it ruled from 1278 to 1918. This family served as Kings of the German territories for several centuries (until 1806), as Holy Roman Emperors, and also served as Kings of Croatia, Hungary, Portugal, Spain and Bohemia. They even installed the Emperor of Mexico from 1864 to 1867! | | Prior to the 1800s, strongly independent nations had not yet arisen in continental Europe (Europe other than Britain). The Holy Roman Empire held much power until the Reformation in the 1500s, and even afterward. The Hapsburg ruling family was a powerful ruling dynasty throughout Europe, especially in Austria where it ruled from 1278 to 1918. This family served as Kings of the German territories for several centuries (until 1806), as Holy Roman Emperors, and also served as Kings of Croatia, Hungary, Portugal, Spain and Bohemia. They even installed the Emperor of Mexico from 1864 to 1867! |
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| − | But Napoleon conquered most of continental Europe in the early 1800s, and after his defeat other nations began to grow in power. France itself grew again in power under Napoleon III, who was the third son of a stepdaughter of Napoleon. After several unsuccessful attempts, Napoleon III finally seized power in France after the failed revolutions of 1848 swept Europe. Napoleon III became emperor of the French in 1852, and served for nearly twenty years until he foolishly fell for the bait of German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck to fight a war against the Prussians (Germans). The Prussians defeated Napoleon III and shipped him off to exile in England, and soon Bismarck formed the new nation of Germany. Ever since, Germany has been the leading power in continental Europe, rather than France. | + | But Napoleon conquered most of continental Europe in the early 1800s, and after his defeat other nations began to grow in power. France itself grew again in power under Napoleon III, who was the third son of a stepdaughter of Napoleon. After several unsuccessful attempts, Napoleon III finally seized power in France after the failed revolutions of 1848 swept Europe. Napoleon III became emperor of the French in 1852, forming the "Second French Empire" and leading it for nearly twenty years. (The "First French Empire" was under the first and greatest Napoleon.) |
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| − | The European nations grew bigger and stronger in the 1800s and early 1900s. These industrialized nations (Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and also the United States and Japan) sought natural resources and raw materials for their factories and new markets to sell their finished goods. In England and Germany, people who believed in Darwin’s theory of evolution in the late 1800s and early 1900s felt a racial superiority and sought conquest (survival-of-the-fittest) to force other races into submission. | + | === Otto von Bismarck and the Franco-Prussian War === |
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| | + | A convert to Christianity from atheism named Otto von Bismarck was one of the brilliant political figures in all of history. After wasting most of his youth, he later married and became quite religious. He rose to power in one of larger Germanic states, Prussia, prior to the formation of the nation of Germany. Otto von Bismarck invented the concept of "realpolitik", a ruthless approach that emphasized practical politics rather than philosophy. |
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| | + | An example of Bismarck's brilliant ruthlessness was how he enticed France to declare war on Prussia, such that France appeared to be the aggressor. This caused other Germanic states to rush to the aid of Prussia, and Bismarck new that he could defeat France and then, because of the unifying effect of the war on the Germanic states, Bismarck could then establish a new nation of Germany. Napoleon III fell for the bait, and the war began. The Prussians defeated Napoleon III in a mere six weeks (in 1871), and shipped Napoleon III off to exile in England. Bismarck then formed the new nation of Germany (the "Reich"), and he became its first Chancellor (nicknamed the "Iron Chancellor"). Ever since, Germany has been the leading power in continental Europe, rather than France. |
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| | + | The European nations grew bigger and stronger in the 1800s and early 1900s. These industrialized nations (Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and also the United States and Japan) sought natural resources and raw materials for their factories and new markets to sell their finished goods. In England and Germany, people who believed in Darwin’s theory of evolution beginning in the mid-to-late 1800s and early 1900s felt a racial superiority and sought conquest (survival-of-the-fittest) to force other races into submission. |
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| | '''Laissez-faire, or Regulation?''' | | '''Laissez-faire, or Regulation?''' |