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Napoleon Invades German Lands
Napoleon annexed lands along the Rhine river for France. He alsobroke apart the Holy Roman Empire by forcing the emperor of Austria to beome king. -
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Congress of Vienna
A group of European ambassadors that tried to restore peace in Europe following the French Revolution and the Naploleonic wars by re-establishing the monarchy and estate system. The leader was Klemens Wenzel von Metternich. -
Otto Van Bismarck Birth
Otto van Bismarck is born -
Zollverein
An economic unity of German states to dissolve tariff barriers. Similar to today's European Union. -
Frankfurt Assembly Demands Unity
The Frankfurt Assembly meets and wants Germsny to be politically united, and they offer the throne to Frederick William IV. -
Frederick William IV is Offered the Throne
The people offer the throne to William IV, but he refuses because he will not listen to or take advice from citizens on a "lower level" than him. -
Bismarck Becomes Prime Minister
Was made Prime Minister by King William I in 1862. Ten years later, Bismarck was chancellor and enforced his "Blood and Iron" belief. -
Blood And Iron Speech
Bismarck set the tone for his fututre policies to build a strong, unified Germsn state. He conveyed the fact that he would get what he wanted, when he wanted it, or else he would take it forcefully. -
Bismarck Declares War On Denmark
Bismarck formed an alliance with Austria in 1864, then they took the provinces of Schleswig and Holstein from Denmark. -
Bismarck Declares War On Austria
Bismarck created an excuse to attack it's former ally Austria. After 7 weeks, Bismarck won and seized their territory along with some other northern provinves. -
William I of Prussia Becomes Emperor
Princes from the southern German states and the Northern German Confederation persuaded William I to take the position as emperor. This began the second Reich. -
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Campaign Against the Socialists
Socialist groups wanted change for the working class. Bismarck feared a revolution, so he created laws outlawing socailsm newspapers and socialist groups. This backfired and beought those groups closer together. Then, Bismarck gave in and passed socialist health care, accident insurance, and old-age insurance with retirement benefits. This showed the socialists that change could happen without fighting. -
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Franco- Prussian War
Bismarck tricked Napoleon into attacking German. The French army was badly organized and poorly supplied, and Napoleon surrendered within a few weeks. -
Bismarck Becomes Chancellor
William I appoints Bismarck as chancellor under him. -
Second Reich Is Created
William I becomes emperor with Bismarck as chancellor. Thus begins the second Reich, or empire, considered to be the next Holy Roman Empire. -
House Of Krupp
The metal company Krupp prospers and sells weapons on a global economy. -
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Population Growth
The German population increased by about 25 million, and it becomes more industrially developed. The economy advances and society becomes more efficient. -
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Kulturekampf
Bismarck campaigns against the church and clergy, who he believes is loyal first to the Pope and not Germany. He passes laws that limit Catholic power and that alllow supervision of Catholic education. Again, these laws backfire and the Catholics rally together and stand against him. Bismarck realizes his mistake and tries to make peace. -
Bismarck Drafts A Constitution
Bismarck sets up a two-house legislature where the upper house, known as the Bundesrat, was appointed by the rulers of the German states. The lower house, the Reichstag, was elected by male voters. The bundesrat could veto any decisions made b the Reichstag, so the power remained with the emperor and the chancellor. -
William II Becomes Kaiser
William II was the grandson of William I. He asked Bismarck to resign because he believed in only one ruler. William II porvided services like chep transportation and electricity and an excellent school system. At that time the German army was the most powerful force in the world, an dhe sought to claim land from France and Britain. -
Bismarck Resigns
William II shocks Europe by ordering Bismarck to resign because there can only be one man in charge.
