The Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune
Answers are for parents and teachers.
1
Write the events of 1870–1871 in chronological order with dates, in 8 lines.
July 1870 – war declared; 1 Sept – Sedan; 2 Sept – Napoleon III surrenders; 4 Sept – Republic; 19 Sept – siege of Paris begins; 18 Jan 1871 – German Empire; 18 March – Paris uprising; 10 May – Treaty of Frankfurt; 28 May – Commune ends.
2
Why does defeat in war sometimes lead to a change of government? Explain using France.
Defeat damages a ruler’s prestige and increases popular anger; after Sedan Paris rose up, the empire fell and a republic was proclaimed.
3
Compare in a table the results of the Franco-Prussian War for France and for Germany.
France: the empire ended, it lost provinces and paid an indemnity, a republic was established. Germany: unification was completed, an empire was proclaimed, it gained an indemnity and new provinces.
4
Calculate: roughly how many months passed from 1 September 1870 to 10 May 1871 (the Treaty of Frankfurt)?
About 8 months (September to May is 8 months).