What made Bismarck successful in uniting Germany?

Answer 1

Bismarck was a master manipulator; able to speak the language of court to sweet-talk royalty and the language of the people to create a huge surge of popular support. He also had a profound understanding of the power of Propaganda.

It took several major developments to make Bismarck successful in uniting Germany to become a European super power.

A. In 1862 Bismarck, the appointed chief minister of Prussia had power & influence by belonging to the Prussian aristocracy;

B. The king of Prussia, William I, who became emperor, supported Bismarck's policies of aggression;

C. Bismarck had the support of Prussian general Moltke, who helped build Prussia's superior army;

D. The "liberal" Prussian legislature opposed militarism & defeated Bismarck's request for more military funding. Bismarck ignored them, negated the Prussian constitution and ruled with military support as the Prussian dictator;

E. In 1864 he brought on a war with Denmark, won the war and took over an important part of Denmark, the Schleswig- Holstein;

F. In 1866, he provoked a war with Austria. His victory led Austria to release control of important provinces and cede all power it had over German provinces to Prussia. The war took only 7 weeks;

G. In 1867, Bismarck established the North German Confederation;

H. Provoked and won the Franco-Prussian war. All the Southern German provinces joined with Prussia; and

I. With the defeat of France & French influence in Spain gone, he in 1871 created the Germen Empire.