What were the main causes of the Franco-Prussian War?

The rise of nationalism and rivalries serves as a key explanation for the causes of the Franco-Prussian War. In the late 19th century, a strong sense of nationalism was prevalent in both France and Germany. In France, there was growing resentment after the defeat in the Franco-German War of 1870-71, leading to a desire to restore national pride and regain lost territories like Alsace and Lorraine. On the German side, nationalism was fueled by the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership and a desire to assert dominance in European politics. This fostered a climate of rivalry between the two nations, where militarism and competing national identities further intensified hostilities. The diplomatic tensions and nationalistic fervor ultimately culminated in the outbreak of war in 1870.

While economic competition and colonial expansion were significant factors in European rivalries during this period, they were not the primary catalysts for the Franco-Prussian War specifically. Similarly, military alliances, although an important aspect of European geopolitics, were more relevant to the larger context of World War I than to the immediate causes of the Franco-Prussian War. Lastly, religious conflicts and cultural differences, while present in various European contexts, were not central to the causation of