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Bismarck's rise to power.
He began his rise to power when William I chose him to lead the Prussian cabinet. He faced much opposition from the Prussian parliament, but despite that he found ways to build up the military. To increase his power he had to drive Austria from its power in Germany, through the 3 wars of Unification. -
The Danish War
This was the first of the 3 wars of Unification. The new Danish King proclaimed a new constitution. Within this constitution he tried to annex a duchie that was inbetween Germany and Denmark. Prussia and Austria didn't like this, protested the constitution, and when Denmark refused to revoke it, they declared war. After 3 months of fighting, Denmark surrendered , and both the Duchies inbetween Germany and Denmark were given to Prussia and Austria. -
The Seven Weeks' War
As Prussian power expanded it prepared itself for conflict with Austria. Bismark began by persuading Napoleon III to remain neutral and then allying with Italy. Finally Bismark provoked Austria into declaring war over the fight of the Duchies Schleswig and Holstein. In seven weeks, using modern-day weapons, communication, and traveling methods Prussia defeated the once-thought all-powerful Austria. -
The Franco-Prussian War
To complete the New German Empire, all Bismark would have to do is unite the southern states of Germany into the country. He edited a telogram from King William, making it sound offending to the French, and the French declared war on Prussia in July of 1870. As expected by Bismark, the Southern states unified to fight off the French threat, and in a matter of months the Prussians defeated the French army. -
The Formation of the German Empire
Representatives of every german state met in the hall of mirrors at the palace of Versailles near Paris and declared the formation of the German Empire. They decided that all German states but Austria would be included in this empire, that Berlin would become the capital, King William I would become the Emporer, and Bismark would become the chancellor. German state's had their own rulers, and the power to control most, if not all, military power. There were 2 legislative branches.(limited power)
