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Creation of German Confederation
As people fought to free their lands from French rule, they demanded a unified German state. At the congress of Vienna, Metternich said that for Germany to be in union, they would have to dismantle German states. However, peace makers created the German Confederation, a weak alliance headed by Austria. -
Bismarck's Rise to Power
He was named Prime Minister by King William I. Within a decade, he became a chancellor, or the highest official of the monarch. He used his policy of "blood and iron" to unite the German states under Prussian rule. -
Prussia Declares War on Austria and takes over Denmark
Bismarck made up at excuse to attack Austria. The war lasted seven weeks with a Prussian victory. Prussia took control over several other north German states, including Denmark. -
France Declares War on Prussia
The Prussian victory over Austria made Napoleon upset. Bismarck played up a image of a harmful French and he rewrote and released a report that said William I insulted a Frenchman. Napoleon declared war on Prussia and in the end he surrendered. -
The Formation of the German Empire
William the I was crowned emperor by the southern German states and the north German confederation. Bismarck set a up a constitution with a 2 house legislature. The upper house was called the Bundesrat. The lower house was called the Reichstag.
