Germany Unification

Germany Unification History Timeline Project Due: 3/10/06

German Confederation

Created by Metternich in Congress of Vienna

In 1815, at the Congress of Vienna, Metternich and others set up the loosely organized German Confederation. This united the 39 countries that made up Germany. Every year, the states would send repre4detivies to a meeting in Frankfurt, called the Frankfurt Diet. Prussia and Austria dominated the meeting, which couldn't do anything unless all 39 states agreed. However, Prussia and Austria did not agree frequently and nothing was ever done. However people looked to this meeting as a sign of what could come.

Wilhelm I becomes king and selects Bismark

In 1861, Wilhelm I became the king of Prussia. He was strong minded and wanted to reform and double the army. However, a liberal parliament that was set up by his predecessor refused his reforms. The Junkers, a conservative, wealthy class that supported the king, also opposed the liberal parliament that they believed challenged the authority of the king. In 1862, Wilhelm I appointed Junker Otto van Bismark to the post of Prime Minister.

Bismark says he will rule w/o Parliament and makes speech

Otto van Bismark was a strong and commanding figure. He believed strongly in the the idea of realpolitik. (describe below) The Prussian parliament refused to grant his and Wilhelm I's desires. So Otto decides that he would rule w/o the consent of parliament and defied the budget they had set for him. These acts were in direct violation of the new constitution. In parliament he told the Parliament "The great question of the day will not be settled by speeches or by majority decisions - that was the great mistake of 1848 and 1849 - but by blood and iron." he rejected the idealism of romanticism in favor of a more realistic reality.

Him and Austria fought Denmark and launched tension

each got a neighboring territory and fought about that. Bismark liked this fighting

Seven's week War

w/ Austria as a result of Denmark border conflict

Prussian is industrialized, helps them greatly

weaken them ?and split up

Franco-Prussian War

changes telegram to get France mad at him so that he could get the southerns to support him (they are catholics and he/ Prussia is protestant. he attacked France in Sept. 1870 captured versailles in Jan 18, 1871