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How did the Franco-German War lead to German unification in 1871?

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Historical map showing the unification of Germany by Prussia in the late 19th century. The map highlights in green the Kingdom of Prussia as of 1866, and in yellow the additional territories that formed the German Empire by 1871-1918, encompassing most of north-central Europe. Neighboring countries such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Switzerland are labeled, with major regions and states within the empire clearly marked. — Prussia The unification of Germany by Prussia, which brought most of north-central Europe into one kingdom.

The Franco-German War (1870–1871) was the catalyst that finalized German unification by overcoming the political resistance of the southern German states to joining the Prussian-led North German Confederation.12

Prior to the war, southern states remained distrustful of Prussian dominance. Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian chancellor, recognized that a common patriotic struggle against foreign aggression was necessary to unite the north and south. He skillfully manipulated the Ems telegram—a report regarding a diplomatic dispute over the Spanish throne—to provoke France into declaring war.132

This perceived French aggression successfully inflamed German nationalist sentiment, leading the southern states to join Prussia in a "brotherhood of arms". The subsequent military victories, culminating in the surrender of Napoleon III at Sedan, created an overwhelming wave of patriotic fervor. Capitalizing on this momentum, William I was proclaimed emperor of a united German Empire at Versailles on January 18, 1871, effectively consolidating the nation before the war had even officially concluded.12