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During the 1800s, nationalism fueled efforts to build nation-states.
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Bismarck’s belief in a strong monarchy made him a political conservative, and in the 1860s he was faced with a hostile liberal majority in Parliament. Therefore, Bismarck directed the nation’s attention to foreign affairs. This would allow him to maintain control of the domestic policy, since civilian populations always accepted special government controls and restrictions during wartime.
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In 1862, Wilhelm I of Prussia appointed Otto von Bismarck to become the prime minister of Germany
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Bismarck took the first step toward molding an empire.
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In 1866, Bismarck led a successful war against Austria, which quickly gave up its share in the affairs of Schleswig and Holstein. Prussia had now formed what would be the nucleus of a united Germany.
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In 1867, as a result of Bismarck’s diplomacy, Prussia annexed three more states and the free city of Frankfurt, thereby bringing all the German-speaking states north of the Main River under Prussian control.
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Bismarck decided to go to war with France, believing that the other German states would come to Prussia’s aid.
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On January 18, 1871, Wilhelm I of Prussia was officially crowned emperor of Germany. In a final insult to the French, the Germans held the ceremony in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
