-
Prussia Is Leader
In the mid-1800s germany remained what it had been for centuries,a bunch of seperate states. Each a had different traditions, laws, political view, etc. -
The Zollverein
Tariffs imposed by the german states made trade between states costly,forcing up the price of goods. By 1834 german states had agreed to treaties that resulted in a customs union called The Zollverein. -
Bismarck
In 1861 william the first became King of Prussia. The next year he appointed Otto Van Bismarck to head Prussian cabinet. Bismarck opposed democracy and the idea of parliament.He belived that the state, not the people, should hold authority. -
Danish War
The Danish King made a new constituition. In it, he tried to annex Schlewig for Denmark. Prussia and Austria believed in the new constitition and they thought it should be revoked. Denmark refused to change their ways, so Prussia and Austria declared war on the Danish. -
Seven Weeks War
As Prussia expanded, Bismarck prepared for conflict with Austria. The Prussians and Bismarck finally delcared war on Austria, who was beat in only seven weeks. The Treaty of Prague emded the Seven Weeks' war in 1866. -
Franco-Prussian War
The German confederation recieved a telegram from King William. When they got the telegram they edited the telegram to make it sound like the King was insulting the French. Once this was published, France declaired war on Prussia. The French were defeated within months. -
The Formation of the German Empire
Met in the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. Bismarck accepted a constitution which united the German states into one. Each state had it's own ruler. There were two branches of Legislative. Now they were one.
