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Napoleon Invades German Lands
From 1807-1812 Napoleon invaded German speaking lands.The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars between Napoleon's French Empire and a series of opposing coalitions. Roberts says that Napoleon fought 60 battles, losing only seven, mostly at the end. -
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna began in September o f 1814. The objective of the Congress was to provide a long-term peace for Europe by settling critical issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. -
Otto Von Bismark
On Augest 1st in 1815 Bismark was born in Schönhausen, Germany. His birth name was Otto Eduard Leopold. -
Zollverein
The Zollverein was an economic union lead by Prussia. Its goal was to dismantled tariff barriers between German states. However, Germany remained politically fragmented. -
Frankfurnt Assembly demands unity
In 1848 the Frankfurt Assembly demanded unity. The assembly wanted a constitution for the entirety of German land. -
Frederick William IV is offered the Throne
In 1848 Frederick William IV of Prussi was offered the Throne however he rejected it. Germany remained divided but the stage was set for Prussian leadership. -
Bismark becomes Ppime minister
In 1862 Bismark became prime minister. King Wilhelm I appointed Bismarck as Minister President of Prussia, a post he would hold until 1890 (except for a short break in 1873). -
Blood and Iron Speech
In 1862 Bismark announced the Blood and Iron speech which set the tone for his policies years ahead. He wanted to unify Germany, led by Prussia. -
Bismark becomes chancellor
In 1862 he formed the German Empire with himself as Chancellor, while retaining control of Prussia. The chancellor is the head of the government in some European countries, such as Germany. -
Bismark decares war on Denmark
Bismark had an alience with Austria. In 1864 they moved to seize provinces of Schleswig and Holsten from Denmark, declaring war. -
Bismark declares war on Austria
Bismark decalred war on Austra in 18166. The Austro Prussian war only lasted seven weeks and ended with Prussian victory. -
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Franco Prussian war
The Franco prussian war took place from July of 1870 to May 1871 and ended in Prussian victory. The imediate cause of the war was the struggle over the vacant spanish thrown. In the end France feared the spread of Prussia but was forced to surrender. -
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Population growth
Between 1871 and 1914 the population of Germaney grew from 41 million to 67 million people. This provided a huge home market along with a larger supply of imperial workers. It was also due in part to ample iron and coal recources and the disiplined and educated work force helped the economy. -
William I of Prussia becomes emperor
In January of 1871 William Ibecame the first German emperor. Under the leadership of William and his Minister President Otto von Bismarck, Prussia achieved the unification of Germany and the establishment of the German Empire. -
Second Reich is created
In 1871 the second Reich was created. Reich is a German word that could be translated as "empire" or "realm." -
Constitution drafted by Bismarck
In 1871 Bismark drafted the consttution as the Prussian minister-president . German historians often refer to it as Bismarck's imperial constitution. The document was essentially an amended version of the North German Constitution, which had likewise been instigated by Otto von Bismarck. -
House of Krupp
The house of Krupp was a gigantic industrial complex that produced steel and weapons for a world wide market. It began to grow after 1871. -
Economic development
The German government promoted economic development which included issuing a single currency of Germany. They also reorginized the banking system and coordinated railroads. Even after the worldwide depression during he 1800's the leaders of the German eprire were determined to stay economicaly strong and maintain their military's strength. -
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Campaign against the church (Kulturekampf)
Kulturekampf refers to German policies in relation to secularity and reducing the role and power of the Roman Catholic Church in Prussia. It was enacted from 1871 to 1878 by the Prime Minister of Prussia, Otto von Bismarck. As one scholar put it, "the attack on the church included a series of Prussian, discriminatory laws that made Catholics feel understandably persecuted within a predominantly Protestant nation." -
Campaign against the socialists
The Anti-Socialist Law of 1878 was perhaps the most important repressive law of Bismarck’s chancellorship. Bismarck’s anti-socialist campaign was among his greatest political miscalculations. -
William II becomes Kaiser
In June of 1888 William II became Kaiser. The Kaiser is the German emperor. -
Bisark resigns
In 1890 Bismark resigned. When he resigned he said that he still had a sence of failure.
