Otto von Bismarck, a Prussian aristocrat, led the unification process of the several Germanic states into a unified nation in the latter half of the 19th century.
Known for his "Blood and Iron" speech, Bismarck implemented a strategy in which his native Prussia led the formation of a unified German nation.
Bismarck worked to make the King of Prussia--Wilhelm I--the leader of a unified Germany with himself as Chancellor. Working against Austria, Bismarck was determined to increase Prussia's military strength and subject weaker states in the German Confederation to Prussian rule.
By taking advantage of nationalism, he appealed to those who supported a unified Germany.
Bismarck used three wars--with Denmark, Austria and France to further his ojectives. In 1864, he led Prussia into a brief alliance with Austria to defeat Denmark in a war over Schleswig-Holstein. A clash after this war resulted in Prussian forces defeating Austria in the Seven Weeks'War in 1866.
As a consequence of Prussia's unexpected victory over Austria, the German Confederation was dissolved and Prussia won control of Scheswig-Holstein. Bismarck invited twenty-one German states to join Prussia in the North German Confederation in 1867. Bismarck finessed a war with France in 1870 to complete unification.
Bismarck released only a portion of a telegram appearing to insult the French ambassador. Prussians felt that their king had been insulted.
Both nations pushed for war with the other.
The Franco-Prussian War began on July 19, 1870 and ended in January 1871. France was defeated by the superior Prussian forces. Peace terms forced France to cede the provinces of Alasce-Lorraine to Prussia.
German princes then offered the title Kaiser to Wilhelm with Bismarck as Chancellor. The 1871 unification led to real power in the hands of the Kaiser and his chancellor. Prussian Junkers had unified Germany and held the real power.
