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Creation of German Confederation
In the early 1800's the German speaking people of central Europe demanded a unified German state during Napolean's rule over Europe. Once Napoleon was defeated, the Congress of Vienna created a weak alliance headed by Austria called the German Confederation. They did this because creating a Unified German State would require the dismantling of the governments of all of the German states. -
Bismark's Rise to Power
Otto von Bismark was a Prussian Noble who first served as a diplomat in France and Russia for Prussia. He was then promoted Prime Minister of Russia in late September 1862 by King William the first. Soon after Bismark had become Chancellor of Prussia, and united the German States from his policy of "Blood and Iron". -
The Danish War
In 1864 the Empires of Austria and Prussia formed an alliance between each other due to Bismark's urge of gaining new land and territory for Prussia. Austria and Prussia then began a war with Denmark and began taking land from Denmark such as, Schleswig for Prussia and Holstein for Austria. This would soon begin the Seven Week's War. -
Austro-Prussian War
The Austro-Prussian War was a war between Prussia and Austria that lasted only for seven weeks. It began with Bismark's challenge of Austria for leadership over the German Confederation. The war ended with a Prussian victory and the taking over of other North Germanic States. The war was declared over by the Treaty of Prague on August 23, 1866. -
The Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War was caused by growing tensions between France and Prussia after Prussia's victory over Austria in 1866. It started when Bismark edited a telegram that had showed King William 1 insulting France, and Napoloen the Third declared war on Prussia. Prussia quickly decimated the weaker French army. This forced Napoleon the Third to surrender to an embarrassing defeat by the Prussians. -
Birth of the German Empire
In January of 1871, William the First took the tilte of Kaiser of Germany. This was called the second Reich because it followed up the holy roman empire. Bismark set up a constituion that included a two house legislature, and a system of checks and balances.
