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Napoleon Brings German States Together
Between 1806-1812, Napoleon made territorial changes to the German speaking lands. During this time period, Napoleon annexed the lands along the Rhine River, and united them into the Rhine Confederation, taking them from Austria's empire. After Napoleon's defeat, the Congress of Vienna created the weak German Confederation headed by Austria. The congress took these actions due to the difficulties of dissolving the local government's of each German State to form a united Germany. -
Prussia Influence in German States and Economy
In the 1830's Prussia created an economic union (Zollverein), which eliminated tariffs in any of the German states. In 1848, the Frankfurt Assembly wanted political unity in the German states, and the assembly offered a throne to Prussia, which was being claimed as coming from "the people's" wishes. However, Frederick William IV of Prussia declined to rule a united German state. -
Otto von Bismarck's rise to Power
By 1862 Otto von Bismarck was promoted to prime minister from a diplomat King William I. By climbing the ranks of political power, several years later the prime minister became a chancellor, and used strategies of "blood and iron" to unite the German states under Prussia. As a master of REalpolitik, or realistic politics, Bismarkck's strategies helped lead to the uniting of the German states to bring power to Hohenzollerns (the ruling dynasty of Prussia). -
Bismarck"s Army and the War with Denmark
To enforce his "blood and iron" foreign policy to unite Germany, Bismarck took funds from other government purposes to build his army when he was denied by funding liberals. In 1864 Bismarck helped form an alliance with Austria in order to take the German provinces of Schleswig and Holstein from Denmark. After "liberating" the provinces in a short war, Austria and Prussia each took one of the two provinces they won (Austria administered Holstein and Prussia administered Schleswig). -
Bismarck Attacks Austria and Unites the German States
By 1866, Bismarck decided to attack Austria. After the seven week long Austro-Prussian War, Prussia triumphed and then annexed offer several more German states. With control over plenty of German states, Bismarc disbanded the German Confederation and created a new confederation under Prussian control. By sticking to his Realpolitik values, Bismarck didn't pursue control over the four remaining southern German states, allowing Prussia to avoid further conflict with Austria. -
France Challenge's Prussian Power
By 1870, the Franco-Prussian War broke out between Prussia and France. As time passed, the constant growing of Prussian power angered Napoleon III of France as the dominating world power of the time. Bismarck knowing of this issue, helped spread German nationalism of reminding the people of the damage caused by Napoleon I and spreading lies of a supposed unsults King William I made to the French ambassador. -
A Kaiser is crowned
After victory over France, the German states persuaded William I to become Kaiser (emperor). The second Reich (or empire) was born and a new constitution was created. A two-house legislature was set up; however, real power reamained in the hands of the emperor and chancellor due to the power to veto decisions in the lower house of legislature. -
Industrial and Economic Progress Comes to Germany
AS Germany gained political and military power and became the leading power in Europe, the industrial side was also growing. The population of Germany increased from 41 million to 67 million between 1871 and 1914, and Germany's abundance of iron and coal helped make them a leader in steel weapons on the world's market. -
Protective Campaigns Against the Church and Socialists
In order to protect the new German state, Bismarck turned his eyes towards the Church and Socialists. Bismarck was worried of the influence of these groups, and feared this would weaken nationalism if people’s first loyalty were to the pope or socialism. Launching the Kulturkampf (battle for civilization), Bismarck supervised the Catholic orders dissolved socialist groups through new laws. As his plans started to backfire, as a realist Bismarck corrected his mistakes. -
The Second Kaiser and Decline of Bismarck
By 1888, William II ascended to the position as Kaiser, following his grandfather. Filled with extreme confidence, and believing himself to have the sole divine right to rule from God, by 1890 he asked the Iron Chancellor Bismarck to resign. Though resisting democratic reforms, William helped pass social welfare, helped expand education, and provide public services (electricity and public forms of transportation).
