1. Blood & Iron: The Unification of Germany

2. KEY TERMS Sovereignty Blood and Iron Machiavellian Militarism
Balance of Power
Metternich Age
Reactionary
Legitimacy

3. Metternich Age & Growth of Nationalism (1815-1871)
5 Major European Powers- After Napoleon’s defeat
England, France, Russia, Prussia, Austria
Meet at Congress of Vienna – to restore past ways turn back the clock= reactionary
CONGRESS OF VIENNA –3 Principles
Legitimacy- restoring ruling families back to the thrones prior to FR
Balance of Power- no one nation should be strong enough to threaten security
Compensation- providing money to one state that lost territory

4. Aim: How Did Otto Von Bismarck Unite Germany?
German Unification

6. The Germanic Confederation
Germany was organized into 38 independent states after the Congress of Vienna
Prussia and Austria were the two most powerful states
In 1848 the states tried to create a unified Germany, but the attempt failed

7. Blood & Iron
Germans looked to the Prussian state to take a leadership role in another attempt to unify Germany
King William I appoints Count Otto von Bismarck his prime minister

8. Blood & Iron Realpolitik
Bismarck practiced the political theory of realpolitik
Realpolitik  “practical politics;” don’t base decisions of ethics, but what is necessary

9. Blood & Iron Blood & Iron
“The great questions of the day are decided…by blood and iron”
Bismarck wanted to unite German through force
Raised taxes to build up the military
Militarism  build up of a nation’s military
Bismarck did not have German nationalism, but wanted to increase the power of Prussia

11. Blood & Iron 3 wars in 7 years
Danish War  Prussia allied with Austria to seize land from Denmark
Austro-Prussian War  Prussia waged war against Austria to gain further territory
Franco-Prussian War  Prussia starts a war with France to gain the territories of Lorraine and Alsace

13. Austro-Prussian War

14. The Second German Empire
King William is proclaimed kaiser
Kaiser  emperor
Like Napoleon did in France, William creates a German empire reminiscent to the Holy Roman Emperor
Germany becomes the strongest industrial power in Europe
This is a major underlying cause to WWI

15. Franco Prussian War

18. III. German Empire Kaiser Wilhelm I 1871 Second Reich (Empire)
2 House Legislature
Bundesrat (Upper)
Reichstag (Lower)