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Territorial Changes
(1806-1812)
Napoleon annexed lands along the Rhine River for France. He also organized a few German states into the Rhine Confederation. In addition, he broke up the Holy Roman Empire by making the emperor of Austria settle for a lesser title of king. -
Prussia Created Zollverein
Zollverein was an economic union created by Prussia. It dismantled tariff barriers between many German states. However, Germany remained politically divided. -
Bismarck Becomes Prime Minister
Bismarck started out as a diplomat for Prussia in France and Russia. The king of Prussia, King William I, made Bismarck prime minister. He was later upgraded to chancellor, which was the most prestigious honor of a monarch. He used his policy of "blood and iron" to help unite the German states. -
An Alliance with Austria
By declaring war on Denmark, an alliance between Austria and Prussia was formed. They took the territories of Schleswig and Holstein as a result of their victory. The two countries split the territories. Austria took Schleswig and Prussia took Holstein. Bismarck was using the policy of realpolitik, ruthless politics that put goals of state ahead of any other concern, during this time. He manipulated Austria in order to gain more Prussian dominance in Germany by forming an alliance with them. -
Austro-Prussian War
Prussia made up a reason to attack Austria. They then won the brief war by a landslide and proceeded by annexing even more German states. Bismarck took control of the Austrian-led German Confediration so it became dominated by Prussia. However, Austria remained independent. -
Franco-Prussian War
This war was caused by a growing tension between France and Prussia. Napoleon III was angered by the take over of Austrain lands by Prussia. This anger also contriuted to the cause of the war. Despite France declaring the war, Prussian forces were stronger than the French military and easily won the war. -
Official Unification of Germany
In celebration of the war, southern German states and the Northern German Confederation persuaded William I become kaiser. This symbolized the birth of a new reich. The Holy Roman Empire was considered the first empire. -
Kulturkampf
(1871-1878)
Bismarck began Kulturkampf to reach his goals of making nationalism more important than religion. He had laws passed that gave the right to supervise Catholic education to the state. The state was also given the right to approve the appointment of the priests. -
WIlliam II Becomes Kaiser
William I was succeded by his grandson, William II, on 1888. Once William II became kaiser, he had a lot of confidence in his abilities. This made him want to make his own footprint on Germany. -
William II Shocks Europe
William II asked Bismarck to resign because of his dominating prescence. The kaiser believed in divine right. He opposed democractic reforms, but did provide programs of social welfare.
