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Bismarck's rise to power
William I appointed Otto Von Bismarck to head the Prussian cabinet. A conservative junker politician, Bismarck built the Prussian army into a powerful war machine. Bismarck opposed democracy and the idea of a parliament. He believed the state, not the people, should hold authority. Bismarck wanted to expand Prussia. He may also have believed it was Prussia's destiny to lead the German people to unification. -
The Danish War
King Christian IX proclaimed a new constitution in which he tried to annex Schleswig for Denmark. Both Prussia and Austria protested the new Danish constitution. Together they demanded it be revoked. When Denmark refused, Prussia and Austria declared war on Denmark. After 3 months of fighting Denmark surrendered. -
The Seven Weeks' War
Bismarck provoked Austria into declaring war on Prussia over the ongoing Schleswig and Holstein dispute. Prussia's efficient conduct during the war startled the whole world. Prussia's forces took advantage of technology, moving by train, communicating by telegraph, and using modern weaponry. They defeated the once powerful Austrians in only seven weeks. The blance of European power dramatically shifted. -
The Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussia was short but decisive. The superb Prussian army defeated the french after a few months of hard battle. A treaty followed im may. Much of france was occupied by german troops. -
Formation of Germany
Representitives of the allied german states met in the hall of mirrors at the palace of Versalies near Paris. There they declared the formation of German empire.
