[quote=Pepperm1nts]
Actually... that is a major point. Bismarck used tensions with France to convince the southern states to join the rest of the Prussian-dominated states. He used some trickery to provoke a French attack (and it worked, since the French declared war and suddenly the France-Prussian war happened). Without France as a big-scary-bad-guy, it's going to be difficult to convince the southern states to unify.
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[quote=So Boerd]
He did, however, having the French as an ally rather than an enemy makes it easier. They can assent and retain autonomy, or resist and I crush them. No one will help them.
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