Otto Von Bismarck Research Paper

During the period of 1850-1871, Germany was unified with the leadership of Otto von Bismarck, the chancellor of Germany at the time. Bismarck, known as the "Iron Chancellor", used both diplomacy and the strength of the Prussian military to achieve his goals. Germany, under the chancellorship of Otto von Bismarck, was unified through Bismarck's aggression and force, persevered with warfare and reforms, and finally achieved with the strong power of the Prussian military.

Otto von Bismarck, born into a Junker family, inherited the ideas and the political principles of the Junker class. "'I was born and raised as an aristocrat," (Spielvogel 653). As a student, Bismarck read widely in Germany history. Bismarck attended the University of Göttingen and studied law. Although, he spent most of his time drinking and gained a job in the Prussian civil service but soon tired of the same administrative routine and retired to help his father manage his country estates. In 1847, he became absorbed of the idea of having more excitement and power than he could find in the country so he soon reentered public life. In 1849, he was elected to the Prussian Chamber of Deputies and moved his family to Berlin. "He never left anyone in doubt that he was a Prussian patriot, not a German nationalist," (www.ohio.edu). At this point, he was far from being a German nationalist. "He told one of his fellow conservatives, 'We are Prussians, and Prussians we shall remain....We do not wish to see the kingdom of Prussia obliterated in the putrid brew of cozy south German sentimentality," (Brittanica). Bismarck, in 1851, began to build a base of diplomatic experience as the Prussian delegate to the parliament of the German Confederation. "This, combined with his...

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... for the better led and organized Prussian forces. The south German states honored the alliance with Prussia and joined them in the war against France. The Prussian army made their way into France and, at Sedan, on September 2, 1870, an entire French army and Napoleon III were captured. Although, the war was not over and after four long months of bitter resistance, Paris finally capitulated on January 28, 1871, and an official peace treaty was signed in May. France had to pay an indemnity of five billion francs. Bismarck thought this would cripple the French for many years and would keep them out of European affairs. However, the French paid the indemnity off in a short span of three years. However, the French had to give up the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine to the new German state. This deeply angered the French and left them impatiently waiting for revenge.