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 The Rise of Germany to Predominance 371 his fate— he was shot by the Mexicans— when the victorious Federal government showed its teeth. In 1870 came a long-pending struggle for predominance in Europe between France and Prussia. Prussia had long foreseen and prepared 'Map ^EUROPE, 184r8-lQ71 (Lpnibarii^.l for this struggle, and France was rotten with financial corruption. Her defeat was swift and dramatic. The Germans invaded France in August, one great French army under the Emperor capitulated at Sedan in September, another surrendered in October at Metz, and in January, 1871, Paris, after a siege and bombardment, fell into German hands. Peace was signed at Frankfort surrendering the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine to the Germans. Germany, excluding Austria,