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==== Otto von Bismarck provokes the Franco-Prussian War ====

==== Otto von Bismarck provokes the Franco-Prussian War ====

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", an approach that emphasized practical politics rather than philosophy (this is discussed again below under "Germany").

Otto von Bismarck, a convert to Christianity from atheism, was one of the brilliant political figures in all of history.  After wasting most of his youth, he eventually 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", an approach that emphasized practical politics rather than philosophy (this is discussed again below under "Germany").

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 knew that he could defeat France and then, because of the unifying effect of the war on the Germanic states, Bismarck could thereby establish a new nation of Germany.   

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.  Bismarck knew that he could defeat France and, 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 and Bismarck because its first "Chancellor" (nicknamed the "Iron Chancellor").  Ever since, Germany has been the leading power in continental Europe, rather than France.

Napoleon III fell for the bait, and the war began.  The Prussians and its Germanic allies 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 and Bismarck because its first "Chancellor" (nicknamed the "Iron Chancellor").  Ever since, Germany has been the leading power in continental Europe, rather than France.

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.

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.