What was the background to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71?
By 1880 at the latest Germany was the military and economic ‘top dog’ in Continental Europe. The other European powers were uneasy about Germany’s new power. After its war on France and its subsequent unification Germany had the strongest military of the continental powers, and was an industrial powerhouse. Its ultimate power was actually somewhat limited because unlike Britain and France, Germany was not a colonial power, so it did not have the massive resources at its disposal the other powers had in their colonies. However, by not competing with the other powers for colonial assets, Bismarck was able avoid conflict. However, eventually William I was replaced by a new Kaiser, William II, who was less willing to allow Bismarck to be the power behind his throne and in 1890 Bismarck resigned.
