Mgermany 1

Unification in Germany

By dmm1987

  • The Congress of Vienna

    Prussia joined the Congress of Vienna because it was now considered a very important country.

  • Napoleon Bonaparte Spreads Nationalism

    In the process of the German Unification and conquering other countries, Napoleon Bonaparte also spread Nationalism.

  • Prussia Surrounds Austrian Land of Holstein

    In 1864, Bismarck teamed up with Austria to battle Denmark and rule over Denmarck's southern states of Schleiswig and Holstein. Prussia won Schleiswig, and Austria won Holstein. However, Prussia now surrounded the Austrian land of Holstein.
    Secondary Source

  • The Danish War

    The Danish War
    Schleswig had a mixed nationality population and Holstein's population was German. Because Schleswig and Holstein were on the borders of Denmark, Denmark wanted to annex Holstein, but Austria and Prussia refused, so the two countries teamed up and went to war with Denmark. Austria and Prussia won easily.

  • The Seven Weeks War

    Prussia and Austria went to war called the Seven Weeks War because it only lasted seven weeks. Bismarck wanted to take out Austria next. Prussia won the very short war.
    Secondary Source

  • Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke

    Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke states that the Seven Weeks War was not caused by threats toward Prussia or because people spoke up for what they wanted, but that it was more of a struggle that was calmly prepared for.
    Primary Source

  • Otto von Bismarck

    Bismarck stated that Prussia didn't try to hurt Austria that much and that the war between the two countries was the foundation of German Unification.
    Primary Source

  • The Zollverien

    A custom union was created due to the huge tariffs between the German states called the Zollverien. The Zollverien contained most of the German states except for Austria. This contributed to the Unification of Germany.
    Secondary Source

  • Proclamation of the German Empire

    Proclamation of the German Empire
    Bismarck established the North German Confederation in 1866, but this became an important stepping stone later on towards unification. The German Empire was proclaimed on January 18, 1871.

  • The Imperial Proclamation

    The German Empire and the German imperial office was restored and the constitution of the German Confederation was created.
    Primary Source

  • Alsace-Lorraine Becomes Part of the German Empire

    France declared war on Prussia but lost within a matter of weeks. The land of Alsace-Lorraine went to Germany and allowed Prussia to declare the German Empire or Second Reich, on January 21, 1871.
    Secondary Source

  • France Attacks Germany and Southern States Run to Bismarck for Help

    After Bismarck changed William I's letter to France, France declared war on Germany. The southern states ran to Bismarck for help. France surrendered in Paris in January of 1871. William I became Kaiser, and Bismarck became the "Iron Chanceller".