Before 1848, Germany was a confederation of 38 states ruled by princes or kings. E. Napp

Prussia was the largest and most powerful German state. E. Napp

Many Germans believed that unity could only be achieved through Prussian leadership. E. Napp

But the Prussian king would not take the crown from the hands of revolutionaries and liberals. E. Napp

The Prussian king appointed Otto von Bismarck his chief minister E. Napp

Bismarck intended to use war as a means for unification. E. Napp

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

Schleswig and Holstein The Prussians fought Denmark for control of Schleswig and Holstein in 1864. E. Napp

The Prussians fought the Austrians over administration of territories. E. Napp

And finally, the Prussians fought the French thereby successfully uniting Northern German Protestants and Southern German Catholics. E. Napp

By 1871, Germany was unified. Kaiser or Emperor Wilhelm I ruled and Otto von Bismarck served as the chancellor. E. Napp

Otto von Bismarck followed a policy of “blood and iron” to achieve his goals. E. Napp

“The greatest questions of the day will not be settled by speeches and majority decisions but by iron and blood.” Otto von Bismarck E. Napp

Although there was a national assembly, it was controlled by conservative Prussian landowners, not the working people. E. Napp