Unifying Germany

Formation of the Rhine Confederation

Jul 12, 1806

Napoleon annexes lands along the Rhine River.

Holy Roman Empire Dissolved

Aug 6, 1806

Collapse of Rhine Confederation

Nov 4, 1813

German Confederation

Period: Jun 8, 1815 to Aug 23, 1866

Weak alliance formed by the Congress of Vienna, headed by Austria.

Prussian Zollverein

Period: Jan 1, 1834 to Jan 1, 1919

Zollverein dismantled tariff barriers between the German states.

Frankfurt Assembly

May 18, 1848

Liberals met to discuss German political unity, offered throne to Frederick William IV.

Bismarck made Chancellor

Sep 23, 1862

King William I makes Otto von Bismarck chancellor of Germany.

Blood and Iron Speech

Sep 30, 1862

Bismarck tries to build up and strengthen the Prussian army. Ideas rejected by government.

Second Schleswig War

Feb 1, 1864

Bismark initiates war with Dutch to gain power

End of Second Schleswig War

Oct 30, 1864

Austro-Prussian War begins

Jun 14, 1866

Lasted seven weeks. Ends in Prussian victory and annexation of several other northern German states.

Battle of Lamac near the Bratislava

Jul 22, 1866

The final battle of the Austro-Prussian War.

Austro-Prussian War ends

Aug 23, 1866

Franco-Prussian War begins

Jul 19, 1870

France is defeated by Prussia.

Prussian Prosperity

Period: Jan 1, 1871 to Jan 1, 1914

Population grows from 14 million to 67 million. August Thyssen built a small factory of 70 workers into a giant empire with 50,000 employees.

Formation of 2nd Reich

Jan 18, 1871

Franco-Prussian War ends

May 10, 1871

Social Democratic Party Forms

May 27, 1875

Otto Von Bismarck's Healthcare Reform

Period: Jan 1, 1883 to Jan 1, 1889

Health Insurance Bill of 1883, Accident Insurance Bill of 1884, and Old Age and Disability Insurance Bill of 1889.

Wilhelm II becomes Kaiser

Jun 15, 1888