Question

Describe the process of unification of Germany.

Answer 1

Unification of Germany (1866–1871) can be understood with the following points:

• In 1848, middle class Germans tried to unite the different regions of the German confederation into a nation state under an elected parliament.
• In Prussia, nation building acts were repressed by the combined forces of the monarchy and the military was supported by the Junkers, that is, the landowners. 
• Prussia took over the leadership of the movement for national unification.
• Otto Von Bismark, the chief minister of Prussia, was the architect of the leading role of Prussia in the process of nation building. 
• Prussia emerged victorious after fighting three wars over seven years against the combined forces of Austria, Denmark and France and the process of unification of Germany was completed.
• On 18 January 1871, the new German empire headed by the German Emperor Kaiser William I was established. 
• The unification of Germany established Prussian dominance in Europe.
• The new German empire focused on modernising the currency, banking, legal and judicial systems.