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The Congress of Vienna
Prussia joined the Congress of Vienna because it was now considered a very important country. -
Napoleon Bonaparte Spreads Nationalism
In the process of the German Unification and conquering other countries, Napoleon Bonaparte also spread Nationalism. -
Prussia Surrounds Austrian Land of Holstein
In 1864, Bismarck teamed up with Austria to battle Denmark and rule over Denmarck's southern states of Schleiswig and Holstein. Prussia won Schleiswig, and Austria won Holstein. However, Prussia now surrounded the Austrian land of Holstein.
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The Danish War
Schleswig had a mixed nationality population and Holstein's population was German. Because Schleswig and Holstein were on the borders of Denmark, Denmark wanted to annex Holstein, but Austria and Prussia refused, so the two countries teamed up and went to war with Denmark. Austria and Prussia won easily. -
The Seven Weeks War
Prussia and Austria went to war called the Seven Weeks War because it only lasted seven weeks. Bismarck wanted to take out Austria next. Prussia won the very short war.
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Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke
Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke states that the Seven Weeks War was not caused by threats toward Prussia or because people spoke up for what they wanted, but that it was more of a struggle that was calmly prepared for.
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Otto von Bismarck
Bismarck stated that Prussia didn't try to hurt Austria that much and that the war between the two countries was the foundation of German Unification.
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The Zollverien
A custom union was created due to the huge tariffs between the German states called the Zollverien. The Zollverien contained most of the German states except for Austria. This contributed to the Unification of Germany.
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Proclamation of the German Empire
Bismarck established the North German Confederation in 1866, but this became an important stepping stone later on towards unification. The German Empire was proclaimed on January 18, 1871. -
The Imperial Proclamation
The German Empire and the German imperial office was restored and the constitution of the German Confederation was created.
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Alsace-Lorraine Becomes Part of the German Empire
France declared war on Prussia but lost within a matter of weeks. The land of Alsace-Lorraine went to Germany and allowed Prussia to declare the German Empire or Second Reich, on January 21, 1871.
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France Attacks Germany and Southern States Run to Bismarck for Help
After Bismarck changed William I's letter to France, France declared war on Germany. The southern states ran to Bismarck for help. France surrendered in Paris in January of 1871. William I became Kaiser, and Bismarck became the "Iron Chanceller".
