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Period: to
Congress of Vienna
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The Fall of Napoleon
Napoleon, after a return from exile, leads the French against the British at Waterloo and loses badly. He is re-exiled to St. Helena, ending the 15 year French Empire. -
Congress of Vienna Meets
The Congress of Vienna was a meeting of diplomats and heads of state, who met to restore stability and order in Europe. Main representatives included Prince Metternich of Austria, Tsar Alexander I from Russia, Lord Robert Castlereagh of Britain, and Prince Charles Maurice of France. The Congress met for 10 months to redraw the map of Europe and divide French Territories won by Napoleon. -
Period: to
Unification of Germany
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Frederick William IV is Offered the Throne
Liberals, demanding German political unity, offered the throne of a united German state to Frederick William IV of Prussia. However, Frederick rejects the notion of a throne offered by "the people". -
Bismarck Unifies Germany
He was a diplomat in Russia and France. Then he was the prime minister of Prussia. Ten years later he was chancellor to unite the German states under Prussian rule. He was a master of realpolitik. -
Danish-Prussian War
Otto wanted to form an alliance with Austria Prussia and Austria seized provinces of Shleswig and Holstein from Denmark. After a brief war they liberated the two provinces. Austria administered Holstein and Prussia administered Schleswig. -
Austro-Prussian War
Otto invaded Austria in a war lasting for 7 weeks. He dissolved the Austrian-led German conferederation. Then there was a Prussian led confederation and 5 independent states. However, Prussia did not take any land from Austria. -
Franco-Prussian War
Napoleon III tried to avoid war with Otto. They were angry that Prussia beat Austria. Later Otto spread a rumor that Wiliam insulted Frenchmen. Napoleon III then declared war on Prussia as Otto hoped. The Prussians quickly defeated the French in just a few weeks. -
Birth of the German Empire
William I became the kaiser of Germany. It was the birth of the 2nd Reich (empire). It was considered the heir of the Holy Roman Empire. -
Steps to unify Germany
Otto promoted economic and scientific progress. He wanted to keep France weak. He launched Kulturkampf. He also made social reforms to try and stop socialism. -
Kaiser William II
He succeeded his grandfather by asking Bismarck to resign. He believed in divine right to rule. He helped increased tensions on the eve of World War I.
