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Congress Of Vienna- Creation of the German Confederation
The Congress of Vienna met for 10 months, after the French Revolution. They wanted to create a lasting plan that would keep peace and stability in Europe. This include creating the German Confederation to keep a balance of power. -
Otto Von Bismarck becomes Prime Minister
Otto Von Bismarck was from Prussia's Junker class, or land-owning nobles. He first served in Russia and France. King William I made him prime minister, a very high position in government. -
The Danish War
Prussia and Austria wanted to gain the lands of Schleswig and Holstein, they then seized them. After a few weeks Austria and Prussia defeated Denmark and liberated and divided the provinces. Austria took Holstein and Prussia got Schleswig. -
Austro-Prussian War/ The Seven Weeks War
Bismarck invented a reason to invade it's alli, Austria. The battle lasted a total of seven weeks and Prussia had an absolute victory. Prussia then controlled many Northern German states. This removed the German Confederation that had been controlled by Austria. Bismarck then created the North Germany Confederation that was influenced by Prussia. -
Bismarck Becomes Chancellor
About 10 years after he becomes Prime Minister King William I appoints Bismarck as Chancellor. The Chancellor is the highest official of a monarch . Bismarck used a policy of "blood and iron" to rule. -
Franco-Prussian War
The French king Napoleon III was outraged by the Prussian victory over Austria. Bismarck encouraged nationalism and, wanting to gain more land, changed a telegram and made it seem like the Prussian king William I was insulting the French. Napoleon III then declared war and within a few weeks the Prussian army had crushed the French. -
Creation of the German Empire
German states and the Noth German Confederation convinced King William I to take the title of Kaiser, or Emperor of Germany. The formation of the Gernan Empire was called the Second Reich. Bismarck and others created a two-house legislature. The Bundesrat was the upper house and the Reichstag was the lower house that was elected. Most of the power was still in the hands of the Kaiser and chancellor.
