The time from about 1852 to 1870 is known as Second Empire in French history. Napoléon III was the emperor. First he had an authoritarian style of ruling, but there was a lot of opposition. Like with many other countries, industrialization (and the industrial revolution) started during his reign. France also became one of the most powerful counties in Europe. It collapsed during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870-1871 during the Unification of Germany by Otto von Bismarck to create the German Empire in 1871 .