German Politics in the 1800s

Germany- left divided by the Congress of Vienna

    German Confederation: Group of German states

    created by the Congress of Vienna   

    - Austria given control of it

            - Austria refused to let the German states

            merge peacefully

William I- king of Prussia in 1861

    - wanted to preserve his monarchy and army

    - hired a new Chancellor (Prime Minister) to do

    that

Otto von Bismarck- Prussian noble who united the

German states

    - believed in a united Germany led by Prussia

        - could only achieve his goal through

        "blood and iron"

    - built up the Prussian Army, picked fights with

    countries and betrayed his allies sometimes

The Danish War of 1864

    - Prussia and Austria defeated Denmark

The Seven Weeks War of 1866

    - Prussia insulted Austria, defeated them

    - broke up the German Confederation, replaced it

    with another- no Austrians or South Germans

The Franco-Prussian War of 1870

    - Bismarck picked a fight with France

    - all the German states came in on Prussia's side

    - France defeated, lose some territory and their emperor

    - result was the German Empire

The German Empire- "2nd Reich"

    - federal monarchy

    - William I became the Kaiser (emperor) over

    a bunch of kings and nobles

    - Bismarck- "Reich Chancellor"- prime minister

        - really was running the country until fired

        by William II in 1890