Critical Thinking Questions   Map List       If you'd like to print out this page, click the Print button above. Alternatively, you may click the printer icon on your browser's toolbar, or choose File>Print from the menu.     1. What role did religion play in the unification of Germany? 2. Examine the distribution of Prussian territory in 1862. From a territorial perspective, why was Prussia interested in forming and controlling the North German Confederation? 3. Otto von Bismarck did not want to annex Alsace and Lorraine after the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871, but was forced to accept it by nationalist interests in Germany. Why would Bismarck be concerned that the acquisition of these two territories might cause future problems with France?