TIME LINE
February 1848 |
the people of Paris rebelled against their king. When this news reached the Germans, they also rebelled. |
October 1848 |
Austrian troops recaptured Vienna. |
December 1848 |
the new Prussian assembly was dissolved by the troops |
March 1849 |
members compromised on a constitution that called for an emperor and a two-house parliament. |
spring 1849 |
the revolution was defeated |
1862 |
the Prussian king, Wilhelm I, appointed Otto von Bismark prime minister |
Between 1864 and 1870 |
Bismarck had the Germans fight three short, victorious wars |
1866 |
Bismark picked a quarrel with Austria. His army easily defeated Austria at Koniggratz in what was called the Seven Weeks' War. |
1867 |
The Austrian emperor was forced to give equal status to his Hungarian holdings, creating the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary. Austria was never again a power in Germany. |
1870 |
Bismark encouraged a Hohenzollern prince to accept the throne of Spain. As Bismark expected, France objected. |
September 1870 |
After several battles, the Germans defeated the main French armies at Sedan |
January 1871 |
The German army captured Paris. Under the peace treaty, France gave up almost all of Alsace and part of Lorraine. |
January 18, 1871 |
Wilhelm I was crowned the first Kaiser of the new German Empire |