-
Prussia Becoming Leader
Prussia Becoming LeaderAfter defeating the French at Leipzig in 1813 and fighting at Waterloo in 1815, Prussia quickly overcame Napoleon's ruling and became one of the four great powers represented at the Congress of Vienna. They also joined the Quadruple Alliance. -
Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna paintingA congress of the Great Powers of Europe met at Vienna to settle disputes and future boundaries of their country. Someone represented each state, proving for it to be quite a large gathering. -
The Zollverein
ZollvereinA basic outline that was formed to make sure German states managed tariffs and economic policies within their own land. It greatly benefited its members by lowering taxes and having a stricter government. -
Otto von Bismarck
BismarckBismarck, head of the Prussian cabinet in 1861, built the Prussian army into a powerful war machine. He opposed parliament and favored Prussia over the other states greatly. He also transformed Prussia into an industrial giant. -
The Danish War
Danish War After protesting the new Danish constitution, Austria and Prussia declared was on Denmark. In 1864, after three months of fighting, Denmark surrendered. The peace treaty settled that Prussia would administer Schleswig, and Austria would administer Holstein. -
The Seven Weeks' War
seven weeks After making several alliances with various countries and states, Prussia declared war against Austria. Because of advantages with technology, Prussia defeated Austria in only seven weeks. -
The Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian WarFranco- Prussian War This was a part of Bismarck's plan to create a unified Germany. After receiving a misleading dispatch from Bismarck, France declared war on Prussia. The Prussian army defeated France in a few months, and Napoleon III surrendered. -
The Ems Telegram
Beginning the Franco-Prussian War, the Ems Telegram was a dispatch originally sent to Otto von Bismarck of Germany, telling him specific details of a meeting with the French embassador regarding the election of a member of the Hohenzollern family. Bismarck altered words in the document to make it seem as though they were humiliating Prussia, and sent it to the newspapers. This angered the French, and they declared war. -
Formation of the Bundesrat and the Reichstag
The legislative branch of the German government consisted of two houses. The Bundesrat was the upper house, and was a federal council. The Reichstag was the lower house, consisted of nearly 400 members, and made up the legislateive assembly. -
Formation of the German Empire
Formation of the German EmpireRepresentatives of the allied German states met in the Hall of Mirrors and issued a proclamation declaring the formation of the German Empire. This included all German states except Austria, and it effected Germany in a positive way because
