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Creation of German Confederation
This was created by Metternich who wanted to unite Germany. That would require the dismantling of the government of each German state. Instead, peacemakers created the German Confederation, which was a weak alliance headed by Austria, but German still remained politically fragmented. -
Bismarck's Rise to Power
King William I made Bismarck prime minister and within a decade, he had become a chancellor. To increase his success, he used the idea of realpolitik. As Prussia's prime minister, he moved to build up Prussian army. -
Prussia and Austria Alliance
Bismarck set up an alliance between Austria and Prussia. Prussia and Austria seized provinces from Denmark and after a brief war, Prussia and Austria liberated the two provinces and divided up the spoils. This would soon lead to a war between Austria and Prussia. -
Austro-Prussian War
Bismarck tried to form an alliance in 1864 with Austria. But the two countries had troubles dividing provinces in German states. Bismarck invented an excuse to attack Austria, which led to the war that lasted 7 weeks and ended in Prussian victory. Prussia annexed many North German states. -
Franco-Prussian War
Prussian force, supported by troops from other German states, defeated the badly organized and poorly supplied France soldiers. Napoleon III surrendered within a few weeks, old and ill. After that, France had to accept a humiliating peace agreement. -
The German Empire
William I of Prussia took the title of emperor while German nationalists celebrated the birth of the second empire because it was considered their heir to the Holy Roman Empire. Bismarck created a constitution to set up a two-house legislature. There was two houses: the Bundesrat; upper house and the Reichstag; lower house, but the real power remained with the emperor and his chancellor.
