Otto von Bismarck

             One politically significant German figure of the 19th century single handedly unified Germany and took it from being a weak nation to being the strongest in Europe. He set out to create a "Little Germany" free of Austria. He succeeded by defeating both Austria and France, and Germany became one of the most powerful nations in all of Europe. This man known as "The Iron Chancellor" worked his way up the ladder in the German system to become one of the most powerful men to ever live. He is Otto Von Bismarck.
             Bismarck was born in 1815 in Saxony, and later moved to Farther Pomerania where he lived on his father's estate, Kniephof. He later grew up and studied law in Hanover at Göttingen; he then transferred to the University of Berlin. He passed his final exams in 1835. He held judicial and administrative offices before he was elected to the Prussian Landtag. There he had been ambassador to St. Petersburg and Paris.
             Otto goes through three unsuccessful engagements before finding the right one. He married Johanna von Puttkamer in 1847. They stayed married until her death in 1894. They had three children together: Marie, Herbert, and Wilhelm. All three of their children died.
             Bismarck was appointed by William I in 1862. Unconstitutionally, Bismarck dissolved parliament and charged taxes to go towards the army. He first set out to make a new German Confederation that did not include the Austrian Empire. Bismarck accused Austria of violating the Gastein treaty, which gave control of Holstein to Austria and control of Schleswig to Prussia. This accusation created the Austro-Prussian War. This seven week war ended with the crushing defeat of the Austrians. Austria was forced to forfeit some land including Frankfurt and Holstein. After this victory for Prussia Bismarck created the North German Confederation, which did not involve Austria.
             Bismarck circulated fear of France to try and u
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Otto von Bismarck. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 11:14, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/6231.html