MY ESSAY

    In the early 1860's a conflict arose about army reforms, causing a constitutional crisis in Prussia. The Prussian king Wilhelm I, appointed otto von Bismark prime minister in 1862. His first goal was to establish Prussia as the leading German power

     Austria was a major obstacle in Bismark's plans. Between 1864 and 1870 Bismark had the German states fight three short, but victorious wars. In the first, Austria and Prussia, in the name of the German Confederation, took territory from Denmark. This alliance with Austria gave Bismark an inside look at the Austrian military and its weakness. In 1866, Bismark picked a quarrel with Austria. His army defeated Austria in the Seven Weeks war. Bismark established the North German Confederation under Prussian leadership. Austria's defeat under Prussian leadership. Austria's defeat left it greatly weakened. In 1867 the Austrian emperor was forced to create the Dual monarchy of Austria-Hungry.

     To complete the unification of Germany, Bismark knew that he needed to overcome French opposition. In 1870 he encouraged a Hohenzollern prince to accept the throne of Spain. France objected. Bismark altered a telegram sent by the French king, and used it as the spark to start the Franco-Prussian war. All the German states joined Prussia. The war abolished the Northern confederation and created a new German empire. The Germans defeated the main French armies at Sedan in Sept. 1870. They captured Paris in Jan 1871. Under the peace treaty France gave up the Alsace-Lorraine. On January 18, 1871 Wilhelm I was crowned the first Kaiser of the new German empire.      

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