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Creation of German Confederation
Creation of the German Confederation occured under the presidency of Austria. Prussia and Austria were the two most powerful German states but traditionally Austria was recognized as the most important. There was a strong popular movement for unification but neither Austria nor Prussia was prepared to allow it happen. -
Adoption of the Zollverein
The Zollverein was a coalition of German States designed to control tariffs and economic policies. It was important in strengthening Prussia and developing nationalism among these German states by bringing them together and sharing economic views. This union of German States eventually created a free-trade area throughout much of Germany and is often seen as an important step in German reunification. -
Frankfurt Assembly
The Frankfurt Assembly was a national assembly that took place on May 18, 1848, as a result of the liberal revolution that swept the German states early in 1848. The parliament was called by an assembly of German liberals in Mar., 1848 and the purpose of this meeting was to attempt to draft a constitution for the German states in an effort to unify them further. This constitution provided a foundation of basic rights in these German states. -
Otto Van Bismarck Elected Prime Minister of Prussia
In the 1860's, he engineered a series of wars that unified the German states, excluding Austria, into a powerful German Empire under Prussian leadership. This series of wars backed up his motto of" Iron and Blood" which he followed in order to gain ground on the unification of Germany. -
Austro-Prussian War
In 1866 the Austro-Prussian War starts and the Prussians defeated the Austrians due to the lack of military advancements and outdated technology that the Austrians possessed. The aftermath of this war was that Prussia became Dominant in Germany and the remaining independent German states were compelled to ally with Prussia. -
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian war was a war in which a coalition of German states led by Prussia defeated France. Bismarck deliberately encouraged the rift between Prussia and France in order to bring the states of Germany into a national union. This war marked the end of French rule in continental Europe and resulted in the creation of a unified Germany. -
Foundation of the German Empire
The foundation of the German Empire is proclaimed in Versailles. The Prussian King becomes Emperor William I of Germany, and the constitution of the North-German Confederation is redone to be a functioning constitution for the German Empire. Germany is now officially unified under Emperor William I.
