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As Napoleon took lands along the Rhine River and enforced his rule over Germany, more and more people became overwhelmed with nationalism, giving birth to the desire for a united Germany.
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In the 1830s, Prussia created an economic union that created a free-trade environment throughout a large part of Germany.
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The newly created national assembly discussed different possibilities for a unified Germany.
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The national assembly embraced a proposed constitution, calling for universal suffrage, parliamentary government and a hereditary emperor. Even though this was later rejected by Prussia, it was an important step towards German unity.
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The national assembly sent the king an offer for the German Crown. He refused, saying tat he will only receive it from the German princes.
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In 1862, King William 1 made Otto von Bishmarck prime minister.
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This was a strategic move that later helped Prussia seize the Danish province of Schleswig.
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This was a short war, ending in a Prussian victory. The victorious country later annexed a couple of other north German states
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The Prussians purposely angered Napoleon 3 by insulting him in a telegram. Furious, the French leader waged war on his rival, only to be defeated soon after.
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After the victory over France, German princes persuaded the king to take the rank of kaiser, or emperor. Bismarck in turn became chancellor. This marked the birth of the second Reich, i.e. Germany as a unified country.
