e uprisings failed, it demonstrated the wish of the 'German' people for unification. But it also showed the reluctance of the leaders of each of the small kingdoms to give up their sovereignty. With this nationalistic movement and the increasing economic ties due to the Zollverein the first step to unification had taken place. Considering that Bismarck was not to take his influential office until 1862, it seems obvious that Bismarck had no role in this early stage. But with 'Germany's' economic ties to Prussia and political ties to Austria (as Austria was head of the Bund), German unification was stuck. This was to be resolved by Bismarck. It is unclear whether Bismarck pre-planned German unification as he was later to state in his memoirs, but this seems very unlikely. But if planned or not, Bismarck's actions did in fact unite 'klein Deutschland' (small Germany) under a common government. Bismarck achieved this through the manipulation and creation of several European incidents.
             For Bismarck to be able to incorporate the states of the German confederation
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