1. Realpolitik and Diplomacy:
- Bismarck adopted Realpolitik, a pragmatic and power-oriented approach to international relations.
- He skillfully used diplomatic negotiations and alliances with neighboring countries, such as the Austro-Prussian Alliance of 1866.
2. Wars and Territorial Expansion:
- Bismarck waged a series of successful wars against Denmark (1864), Austria (1866), and France (1870-71).
- These victories led to territorial gains and increased Prussia's dominance within the German Confederation.
3. North German Confederation:
- After defeating Austria in the Austro-Prussian War, Bismarck established the North German Confederation in 1866, unifying most of northern Germany under Prussian leadership.
4. Unification of Southern German States:
- Bismarck skillfully convinced or pressured southern German states, such as Bavaria, Württemberg, and Baden, to join the North German Confederation.
- He made strategic concessions and negotiated favorable terms to gain their support.
5. Franco-Prussian War:
- In 1870, Bismarck engineered a diplomatic crisis that led to the Franco-Prussian War.
- The swift Prussian victory and the capture of Emperor Napoleon III strengthened the unification movement across Germany.
6. Proclamation of the German Empire:
- On January 18, 1871, in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, King Wilhelm I of Prussia was proclaimed as Emperor Wilhelm I of the German Empire.
- This marked the formal unification of Germany under Prussian leadership.
7. Constitution and Institutions:
- Bismarck drafted a constitution that established a federal state with a bicameral parliament and a strong central government dominated by Prussia.
- He designed institutions that maintained the balance of power between different German states.
By combining diplomatic skill, military success, and political maneuvering, Bismarck managed to overcome various obstacles and successfully unite most of the German states into the German Empire.