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Napoleon Raids German Lands
Napoleon annexed German lands near Rhine River, dissolved Holy Roman Empire, and created Rhine Confederation. People liked his enlightenment policies but wished for a unified state for Germans. -
Bismarck Unites Germany
King William I made Otto von Bismarck prime minister, and eventually he became chancellor and used a policy of "blood and iron" to unify German states under Prussian rule. His success also had to do with his use of realpolitik and strengthening of the army. -
Prussia Declares War with Denmark and Austria
Bismarck first tried to form an alliance with Austria, but ended up in war for land over German states. He created an excus to attack Austria and won the Austro-Prussian War and annexed several north German states. He also dissolved German Confederation and only left Austria and few southern German states alone. -
France Declares War on Prussia
Rivalry between the two countries led to Franco-Prussian War. Bismarck provoked France and led to Napoleon III declaring war on Prussia, as Bismarck had hoped. Prussian forces defeated France and forced France into a peace treaty. -
German Empire is Born
Germans wanted William I to become the kaiser. They celebrated the birth of the second Reich (following the Holy Roman Empire). A Constitution by Bismarck set up a two-house legislature. Upper Level (Bundesrat) and Lower Level (Reichstag).
