-
Bismark's Rise to Power
Bismark was a conserative Junker politian who built the Prussian army into a powerful war machine. He opposed democracy and the idea of parliament. He believed the state should hold authority and wanted to expand Prussia. -
Danish War
King Christian IX proclamed a new constitution where he tried to annex Schleswig for Denmark. Prussia and Austria protested the new constitution. The demanded it to be revoked. When Denmark refused, Prussia and Audtria declared war. After three months, Denmark surrendered. -
Seven Weeks War
Bismark provoked Austria into declaring war on Prussia over the ongoing Schleswig and Holstein disupute. The Prussians took advantage of technology. They defeated Austrians in only Seven Weeks. -
The Franco-Prussian War
Bismark recieved a telogram from King William. He edited the telogram so it sounded like the King had insulted the French embassador. When it was published it enraged the French so much that in July, they declared war on Prussia. The Prussian army defeated the French. -
Formation of the German Empire
Representitives of the allied German states met in the Hall of Mirrors at the palace of Versailles. They declared the formation of the German empire. It included all German states except Austria. The Prussian capital of Berlin became the empire's capital.
