Building A German Nation: Steps Towards Unity and Impact of Napoleon ~German people were scattered across Central Europe. ~ accepted Napoleon as a hero, but not as a ruler.

Frankfurt Assembly unified Germany. Prussian Leadership Prussia formed a union called the Zollverein to end trade barriers between German states Frankfurt Assembly unified Germany. German states offered Fredrick William IV the throne of Prussia, but he rejected the offer.

Bismarck and German unity Otto Von Bismarck succeeded where others failed Prime Minister of Prussia (chancellor) Master of realistic politics (Realpolitik) based on needs of the state Wanted to strengthen army “Blood and Iron” Policy Led Prussia into 3 wars German unity

Wars With Bismarck Bismarck formed an alliance with Austria, then attacked them; war lasted for 7 years. Prussia took control of Northern German states. Bismarck destroyed the other Austrian confederation & created a new confederation controlled by Prussia Bismarck allowed Austria and four other German states to stay independent.

The Franco-Prussian War Growing rivalry between the two nations led to the war in 1870 Napoleon III did little to stay away from the war hoping to elude problems at home. Bismarck intentionally insulted Napoleon III to get him to attack Germany so Germans could beat France, but still look innocent Napoleon declared war on Prussia Prussian forces, supported by troops from German states, defeated the badly organized, poorly supplied, French Soldiers. Napoleon III, old and ill, surrendered in a few weeks. France accepted a humiliating peace.

Crowning German Emperor Germans hated France so much so that during the Franco-Prussian War they charged into Versailles, the home of the French Royal Family, to crown the German Emperor.

How the French felt about Bismarck “The Great German Ogre” “Le Grand Ogre Allemand”