Fake News: The Franco-Prussian War

The Franco-Prussian War

The Franco-Prussian War (July 19, 1870–May 10, 1871), was the war in which a coalition of German states led by Prussia defeated France. It marked the end of French power in continental Europe and resulted in the creation of a unified Germany.(Wikipedia, 2018)

The main cause? One being the French-provoking Ems dispatch.

Ems Dispatch

A communication between King William and his premier, Otto von Bismarck. In June, 1870, the throne of Spain was offered to Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, a relative of King William (Which occurred after the Spanish revolution and Queen Isabella was disposed).

Leopold accepted the candidacy but withdrew after the French government had protested. During this time William and Bismarck were on the waters at Ems, Germany. There the French ambassador Comte Benedetti, in an interview with the king, requested William's guarantee that the candidacy of Leopold to the Spanish throne would never be renewed, to which William rejected. Bismarck, with the intent on provoking war with France as his strategy to unify the German States, made the king's report of the conversation public (July 13) in his celebrated Ems dispatch. He had edited the conversation in a manner certain to provoke the French. France declared war on July 19, and the Franco-Prussian War began as a result of fake news.

Fake News Today

Fake news or junk news is a type of yellow journalism or propaganda that consists of deliberate disinformation or hoaxes spread via traditional print and broadcast news media or online social media. (Wikipedia)

The aftermath of the fake-news provoking war led to German unification. As a result, Germany had established itself as a major power in continental Europe, boasting the most powerful and professional army in the world.

The truth is, fake news and the spread of disinformation is not a new strategy. For centuries those in power have used it as a tactic to achieve political goals. The difference today? Merely the medium; with non-human agents, such as Twitter bots, playing a major role in spreading false information in the 21st century.