German Unification

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    House of Krupp

    The Krupp family started a large steel making industry in the late 18th century. They boosted the German economy when it was developing in the 19th century, and in 1999 they merged with another coompany.
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    Napoleon invades German lands

    After Napoleon was defeated in a land war by Russia in the middle of winter (such a surprise) he retreats into and attacks German lands.
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    The Congress of Vienna

    Powerful conservatives from Europe met and decided what to do with the kingdoms of Europe. They try to put everything back the way it was pre-French Revolution.
  • The birth of Otto von Bismark

    Otto von Bismark was brought into this glorious world, and there was much rejoicing. He was born as Otto Eduard Leopold in 1815 to Karl Wilhelm Frederick von Bismark and Wilhemina Lousie Mencken in Schönhausen.
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    Economic development

    Beginning in the 1820s, the economy began rapidly developing. They went from rural farming to a heavily induustialized society in 50 years. IN 1873 however, they went into a depression.
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    Zollverein

    An economic system set up in Germany to make trading easier between German states.
  • Frederick Wilhelm IV is offered the throne of Germany

    The king of Prussia is offered the throne of Germany by the people, but he refuses to accept a crown "from the gutter"
  • Blood and Iron speech

    Otto von Bismark makes a rousing speech declaring that the German empire willl unite by was of force, and war. According to him, Germany's fate will no longer be determined by the waffling of poiltitions.
  • Bismark declares war on Denmark

    Denmark at this time was in the possesion of two Germanic porovences, Schleswig and Holstein. Prussia and Austria teamed up to take these two provences aaway and make them part of Austria and Prussia, both empires being Germanic.
  • War with Austria

    After annexing Schleswig and Holstein, Prussia and Austria get into a fight about who owns which provence. Prussia, which is being led by Bismark, declares war on Austria, and trounces them.
  • Constitution drafted by Bismark

    Bismark drafted the constitution that controled the government
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    Franco- Prussian war

    Bismark is still mad at France frooom when Napoleon invaded. So, he provokes France into attacking, and the defeats them. This makes France weak, and also it makes them look bad. They attacked Prussia, the war was their fault.
  • Bismarck becomes chancellor

    Bismarck was appointed the Chancellor of the second Reich.
  • William I of Prussia becomes emperor

    William I is crowned Emperor of Germany in the Palace of Versailles after the Franco-Prussian war
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    The Second Reich

    Due to Bismarck's efforts, a unifued German empire is created, known as the Second Riech. It is ruled by a Kaiser, and it falls at the end of WWI when Germany is defeated.
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    Kulturkampf

    Bismark luanched a campaign against Catholics, becuase he thought that alliegence to the church would weaken alliegence to the country So he tried and failed to kick the Catholic church out of Germany.
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    Anti-socialism campaign

    Not having learned anything from his anti-Catholocism campaign, Bismark tries to get rid of secialist. He fails, they gain power in the government
  • Otto is forced to resign

    Kaiser Wilhelm II doesn't want Bismark working for him, he doesn't like his policies. SOohe forced him to resign