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German Unification. Actions of Wilhelm I (William I). Succeeds Friedrich Wilhelm to the throne in 1861 Planned to reform military- denied money from liberal parliament Junker class (conservative/upper-class) supports Wilhelm Junker, Otto von Bismarck named as prime minister.
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Actions of Wilhelm I (William I) • Succeeds Friedrich Wilhelm to the throne in 1861 • Planned to reform military- denied money from liberal parliament • Junker class (conservative/upper-class) supports Wilhelm • Junker, Otto von Bismarck named as prime minister
Prussia leads German Unification • One of the two largest German states • Mainly German population • Unified by nationalism • Most powerful industry and military
Actions of Otto von Bismarck • Realpolitik “the politics of reality” • Acted without Parliament’s approval, but with the King’s using slogan of “blood and iron” • What is that quote referring to?
Prussia Declares War with Denmark and Austria • Bismarck forms and alliance between Prussia and Austria and declares war against Denmark to win provinces of Schleswig (Prussia) and Holstein (Austria) • Due to border conflicts over new provinces, Bismarck provokes a war with Austria in 1866, known as the Seven Weeks’ War. • Why would Bismarck target his former ally from the war against Denmark? • Austria loses the region of Venetia (it is given up to Italy),West and East Prussia join into one kingdom, they then dominate the north that was joined into one North German Confederation
France Declares War on Prussia • Southern/Catholic Germans resist Protestant Prussia to gain support Bismarck believes they need a common enemy. • Bismarck altered a telegram between Wilhelm I and the French ambassador to look like an insult France declares war in July of 1870. • January 18, 1871 Prussia seizes Versailles, France surrenders and Wilhelm I is crowned Kaiser, or emperor of the Second Reich.
Birth of a German State • Prussia Germany by 1871 and, alongside Britain, is the most powerful power in Europe militarily and economically. • How was Nationalism used to unify the German nation? • How does this impact the plans from the Congress of Vienna?