How did the Franco-Prussian War change Europe?
Impact France Thiers became chief of the French executive power in France. French authorities immediately organized election for a French National Assembly which met at Bordeaux. The National Assembly had no real aletrnative other than to accept the preliminary peace agreement (March 1, 1871). The preace agreement was formalized by the Treaty of Frankfurt. The National Assembly ratified it (May 21). France was required to pay Prussia an indemnity of $1 billion–a hugh sum at the time. The calculation is based on an indemnity that Napoleon forced upon the Prussians in 1807 during the Napoleonic Wars. [Ludwig, pp. 384-385.] The French had to agree to maintain a German occupaton army until the indemnity was paid. Bismarck expected the indemnity to handicap the French for years. The French paid off the full sum in less than 3 years. The Government with strong popular support subscribed loans that allowed to pay the debt. Even more humiliating to the French was that Alsace, except for Belfo
