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Before 1848, Germany was a confederationof 38 states ruled by princes or kings.

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Prussia was the largest and mostpowerful German state.

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Many Germans believed that unitycould only be achieved throughPrussian leadership.

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But the Prussian king would not take the crown from the hands of revolutionariesand liberals.

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The Prussian kingappointed

Otto von Bismarckhis chief minister

in 1862.

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Bismarckintended

to usewar as

a meansfor

unification.

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The Prussians fought three wars to unify Germany. They fought the Danes, the Austrians, and the French.Unification was achieved through“blood and iron”.

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The Prussiansfought Denmark

for control ofSchleswig and Holstein

in 1864.

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The Prussians fought the Austriansover administration of territories.

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And finally, thePrussians fought

the French thereby

successfully uniting Northern

German Protestantsand Southern

German Catholics.

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By 1871, Germany was unified. Kaiseror Emperor Wilhelm I ruled and Otto

von Bismarck served as the chancellor.

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Otto von Bismarckfollowed a policy

of “blood and iron”to achieve his goals.

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“The greatest questions of the daywill not be settled by speeches andmajority decisions but by iron and

blood.”

Otto von Bismarck

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Although there was a national assembly,it was controlled by conservative Prussian

landowners, not the working people.