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Fall of Napoleon
Napoleon, the leader of France continued to pull new lands into his empire. To later help Germany's unification, Napoleon had annexed lands along the Rhine river, dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, and organized the German states into his Confederation of Rhine. However, his recent military defeats weakened him. The other countries took this chance to attack him. Napoleon was finally defeated in the Battle of Waterloo and exiled to the island of St. Elba. His ambition had been his downfall. -
Congress of Vienna
To restore stability, order, and peace to Europe, the leaders of the European countries met. They focused on redrawing the map of Europe and restoring monarchies. The German Confederation was established in this process, consisting of many of the German states that had belonged previously in Napoleon's Rhine Confederation. It became a weak, fragmented alliance under Austria. -
Period: to
Unification of Germany
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Prussia-Denmark war
Bismarck formed an alliance with Austria. Prussia and Austria then seized Denmark's provinces and, after a short war, divided up the land. Prussia kept Holstein, while Austria kept Schleswig. -
Austro-Prussian War
In 1866, Bismarck attacked Austria. This war lasted 7 weeks, and Prussia won. Prussia then annexed Austria's German states and put them under his control. -
Franco-Prussian war
France was growing angry with Prussia's growing power and Bismarck's insults to France. Napoleon III declared war on Prussia, and Prussia's army quickly crushed the disorganized French soldiers. -
Bismarack's rise to power
Bismarack's success was due in part to his strong will. He was a prime minister who moved up to build the Prussian army. He strenthened the army with money that had been collected. He wanted to form a alliance with Austria. He dissolved the Austrian- led German confederation and created a new one dominated by Prussia. He also spurred up German nationalism. -
Birth of the German empire
The people of the Southern German states and the Northern German Confederation supported Bismarck after his victorious battles. They persuaded him to become kaiser and pronounced him Emperor of Germany. He set up a constitution, which included a 2-house legislature.
