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Prussians Defeat Napoleon
Allied Order of Battle at Leipzig
After being defeated by Napoleon I in 1806 and having to provide services to France, Prussia had had enough. Prussia reformed its army and joined the allied force that included Russia, Sweden, and Austria. Together, they defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Leipzig. This nationalistic effect was positive, for it stopped the French from gaining more control. -
German Confederation
Map of German Confederation
In 1815, the Congress of Vienna turned the Confederation of the Rhine into the German Confederation. The Congress of Vienna also included Prussia and gave them more land. This had positive nationalistic effects. It joined the countries geographically and created a balance of power to ensure that no one nation would become more powerful than another. -
Zollverein
Zollverein
In 1834, the German states, except Austria, created a customs union called the zollverein after high tariffs were abolished. It created a free-trade zone in Germany and made the states economically dependent on each other. This had positive effects on its members. Members paid lower prices, industrialization spread, production and sales increased, and tariff protection from outside countries was offered. -
The Frankfurt Parliament's Draft of a Constitution
Frankfurt Constitution
In 1849, the National Assembly in Frankfurt drafted a constitution to try to unify Germany. The constitution stated that Germany would be ruled by a hereditary monarch whose powers would be limited by an elected legislature. However, this constituion never went into effect.Therefore, it had a positive effect on the unification of Germany by allowing Bismarck to take control. -
Otto von Bismarck
Blood and Iron Speech
Otto von Bismarck, chancellor of Prussia believed that it was Prussia's destiny to lead. In his famous speech, Bismarck states that the only way for Prussia to succeed was through industrialization and war. Bismarck's focus on strengthining the military and his nationalistic views had a positive effect. Prussia won three wars and the Germans became more unified through the formation of the German Empire. -
The Danish War
The Danish War
In 1864, Denmark wanted to annex the province of Holstein. Austria and Prussia opposed and went to war with Denmark. Bismarck saw this as an opportunity to make war on Austria. This event was a positive one in that it lead to the further unification of Germany through Bismarck. -
The North German Confederation Treaty
Norh German Confederation Map
The North German Confederation Treaty was signed in Berlin between Prussia and the other German states after the end of the Austro-Prussian War. Prussia led the way, and the other countries pledged them their military forces. In addition, Bismarck wrote the proposed constitution for the Confederation. This treaty had a positive effect, for it led the German states closer to unification. -
The Treaty of Prague
The Treaty of Prague
The Treaty of Prague ended the Seven Week's War in the summer of 1866 between Prussia and Austria. The German Confederation was dismissed, and Austria surrendered Holstein to Prussia. This event had a positive effect in that it it led to the formation of the North German Confederation that unified all but the German states of Bavaria, Baden, and Württemberg and the southern part of Hesse-Darmstadt. -
The Franco Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War
When Spain sought a new ruler, Prussian Prince Leopold was offered the throne. France objected and demanded the Leopold decline. The demand was given to King William at Ems. Bismarck received the telegram and edited it to make France look bad. France declared war on Prussia, and Prussia won. The war had positive effects, for German received land and money. It also led to the formation of the German Empire. -
The German Empire
Map of the German Empire
In 1871, German representatives met in the Hall of Mirrors of the palace of Versailles. It was there that the German Empire was formed. It included all but Austria. The German Empire had negative nationalistic effects. It gave the kaiser immense power, limited the powers of the Reichstag (people), and leaned in favor of Prussia, giving Prussia the unfair advantage of more power than the other states.
