For Britain and France, the conflict was about preserving the balance of power; for Russia, it was about expanding influence; and for the Ottoman Empire, it was a desperate fight for survival. Ultimately, the Crimean War served as a prelude to later conflicts that would continue to shape Europe, such as the unification movements in Italy and Germany and the eventual collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. Lord Aberdeen's coalition government fell in 1855 over its handling of the Crimean War, Lord Palmerston was the only man able to sustain a majority in Parliament, and he became prime minister for Britain in the latter half of the Crimean War.