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Napoleon Raids German Lands
Lasting 6 years, Napoleon changed German speaking lands. He conquered new lands and dissolved the Holy Roman Empire. He combined German states to create the Rhine Confederation. After the Vienna Congress, the Rhine Confederation became the German Confederation, which was headed by Austria. -
Bismarck Unites Germany
Ottoman von Bismarck was very successful. Starting out in the junker class, which is made up of conservative land-owning nobility, rose to the title of chancellor under King William I. He united the German states and Prussia under his policy, "Blood and Iron". -
Prussia Declares War with Denmark and Austria
Creating an alliance in 1864, Austria and Prussia attacked Denmark. After winning the quick war, the two victors split their winnings. Austria controlled Holstein and Prussia controlled Schleswig. Later, in 1866, Prussia declared war on Austria. The war, lasting seven weeks, ended in Prussian victory. Afterwards, Bismarck dissolved the German Confederation and created a new confederation controlled by Prussian authorities. Austria and four other German states were the only to remain independent. -
France Declares War on Prussia
A rivalry between Prussia and France caused the Franco-Prussian war. Bismarck spurred nationalism in Prussia, which furthered the crisis. He edited a telegram between King William I and the French ambassador. He made it seem that the king insulted the ambassador. Napoleoon III declared war on Prussia. A weak Napoleon and a stronger Prussian force defeated the French army in a couple weeks. -
A German Empire is Born
Princes from northern and southern Germany persuaded King William I of Prussia to take the title of kaiser, or emporer. He called it the Second Reich. They considered it the heir to the Holy Roman Empire. Bismarck created a constitution, which set up a two-house legislator. The Bundersrat was the upper house and consisted of people appointed by the rulers. The Reichstag, or lower house, consisted of people elected by universal male suffrage. The Bundersrat had more power because they could veto.
