In 1815, Germany was nothing but a loose grouping of States known as 'the German Confederation'. This creation replaced the holy Roman empire which had previouly held the many German speaking states together and united central Europe under the Austrian emporer. The holy Roman empire had been destroyed by Napoleon, after the crushing victories at marengo in 1800, Ulm and Austerlitz in 1805 and at Jena and Auerstedt in 1806, Napoleon remodelled France by annexing the territories on the west bank of the Rhine to France, and he then gave other kingdoms to his relations (e.g. the Kingdom of Westphalia to his brother Jerome), and he let some of the German princes continue as princes on condition fo absolute loyalty to him.
             This distruction of the holy Roman empire had disasterous consequences. The recreation of central Europe by the Vienna settlement could not recreate the fine balances of the holy Roman empire and the new confederation was only loosely associated. The new confederation caused many problems. The new states created by the settlement had no long traditions of loyalty to the local Monarch, this caused disputes and disagreements as the sense of loyalty to something was taken away. Also, Monarchs which had fallen from power who could still command a large following, caused problems for the new leaders. Also, and perhaps most importantly, Napoleon's total humiliation of the German states created a sense of anger and resentment against the French nation. This 'Franco-phobia' continued for many years after Napoleon and was later used by leaders such as Hitler to create a following. This felling of anger and resnetment, however, also created a sense of national pride and anger at 'Germany's' humiliation. This began the unification process of Germany.
             However, perhaps the most important effect of the destruction of the holy Roman empire was the realisation by both Austria and Prussia of the need for reform. However, Austria's refo...