UNIVERSITY OF JOS

FACULTY OF ARTS, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

COURSE TITLE:
EUROPE FROM THE FRENCH REVOLUTION TO
THE FIRST WORLD WAR

COURSE CODE: HIS 207

GROUP H

QUESTION:
EXAMINE THE ROLE OF OTTO VON BISMARCK IN THE
UNIFICATION OF GERMANY.

LECTURERS:
MR. GODSLOVE ZEBULON &
DR. MRS GLORIA LONGBAAM

DATE OF SUBMISSION:
FEBRUARY, 2025
 GROUP MEMBERS

S/N NAMES MATRIC NUMBER

1. JOSEPH WISDOM MAGAJI UJ/2022/AR/0256
2. TONGRIANG SOLOMON HAPPINESS UJ/2022/AR/0282
3. RITGAK MESHAK GOKIR UJ/2022/AR/0444
4. DAFFI GEOFFREY ANITA UJ/2022/AR/0385
5. SHARON BITNAAN DAVID UJ/2022/AR/0667
6. NENFORT DANJUMA GOSAR UJ/2022/AR/0749
7. DUFFAT RIISAM SANTOS UJ/2022/AR/0243
8. UMARU JASMINE TIEMNOE UJ/2022/AR/0336
9. SOLUADE STEPHANIE OLUWABUSAYOMI UJ/2022/AR/0846
10. BENJAMIN SARAH YAKUBU UJ/2022/AR/0340
11. ILIYA SALOME MSHOMSHAK UJ/2022/AR/0791
12. BATURE ELIZABETH UJ/2022/AR/0116
13. GULENGS FWANGSHAK UJ/2022/AR/0619
14. AJILA EFEME UJ/2022/AR/0166

1
Otto von Bismarck was born into a noble land-owning family in the kingdom of Prussia,

which was part of the Junker class a group a conservative land-owners in Prussia who held

significant influence over the Prussian military and state. Bismarck’s early life was marked

by his strong Prussian patriotism and his experiences with the materialistic and hierarchical

culture for Prussian aristocracy. Bismarck was educated at home with intense tutors and later

attended the University of Berlin where he studied law. He was known for his outspoken and

sometimes controversial views especially during his university years, developing a reputation

for his sharp tongue and disdain for the more liberal academic culture of the time. After

finishing his education, he briefly served in the Prussian civil service but soon grew restless

with his bureaucratic lifestyle.1

In the 1840s, Bismarck entered the diplomatic service of Prussia. He was appointed as the

Prussian envoy to the German confederation in Frankfurt and later served as a diplomat in

St.Petersburg and in Paris. During this time Otto von Bismarck was building his political

views which were rooted in a conservative realist outlook. He believed in the power the state

had in pragmatic diplomacy and the necessity of using force when required. His early

experiences in foreign diplomacy later shaped his approach to European and international

politics. He later rose to prominence during the turbulent 1848 revolutions across Europe. At

the time, Prussia was experiencing its own political upheaval, but Bismarck’s strong

conservatism, which favored a stable monarchy over the rise of liberal or nationalist’s

movements. He was a vehement opponent of constitutional reforms and liberal democracy,

aligning himself with the interests of the monarchy.2

1
John Carl Georg Röhl The Iron Chancellor: A Biography of Otto von Bismarck (Cambridge University Press,
2018) 12.
2
Jonathan Steinberg Bismarck: A Life (Oxford University Press, 2011) 34.

2
Otto von Bismarck often referred to as the “iron chancellor” was the key architect behind the

unification of Germany in the 19th century. The unification was marked by pragmatism,

manipulation, and brilliant diplomacy, often summed up by his famous maxim quote,

“politics is the art of the possible”. Through a series of carefully orchestrated wars, strategic

alliances, and deft handling of European politics, Bismarck engineered the creation of the

German empire in 1871. The unification of Germany was a process in 1871 that brought

together numerous independent German speaking states into a single nation state under

Prussian leadership. This unification was primarily achieved through the efforts of Otto von

Bismarck who was the prime minister of Prussia who utilized diplomacy, strategic wars and

political maneuvering to unite the various German states.3

Bismarck’s political strategy was grounded in a pragmatic, often ruthless approach to politics

focused on power and practical considerations rather than ideology or idealism. he was a

master at manipulating circumstances to his advantage and his main goal was to unify the

German speaking states under a Prussian leadership while excluding Austria, a powerful

German speaking neighbor .Otto von Bismarck understood that in order to achieve

unification he needed to balance the various competing interests within the German

confederation and Europe at large . He knew that diplomacy alone would not achieve his

vision of war because when it is used strategically it could solidify alliances and weaken

enemies.4

Before Otto von Bismarck’s involvement in the unification of Germany in 1871, the region of

Germany was divide into numerous independent states, each with its own government, laws,

policies and military’s. The area that would become modern Germany was not a unified

nation but a patchwork of smaller kingdoms, duchies, principalities, and free cities. This

3
Alan John Percivale Taylor, Bismarck: The Man and the Statesman (New York: Vintage Books, 1955), 25.
4
Derek W. Urwin Bismarck and the Unification of Germany

3
fragmentation was a result of the holy roman empires dissolution in 1806 and the subsequent

political changes in the 19th century. Before the unification, the German confederation was a

loose association of 39 German speaking states that formed after the Napoleonic wars. It was

not a unified nation state and these states maintained considerable independence from each

other. Major states like Prussia, Austria, Bavaria, and Saxony had their own ruling dynasties

and military forces. Smaller states like the grand duchy of Baden or the kingdom of

Württemberg were also part of the confederation but had limited influence on the broader

political scene. The rivalry between Prussia and Austria sought to assert herself as the main

leading power in German affairs while Austria despite being a German speaking country was

more focused on its empire in central and Eastern Europe and was thus less committed to the

German unification. Before the unification too, there were stark differences between the

German speaking states. Prussia was much more industrialized and had a powerful army

while other areas like Bavaria were less developed. The lack of a unified economy meant that

trade barriers existed between the different states. Although efforts like the German customs

union helped to reduce internal tariffs and create a common market among many of the

German states, boosting economic growth and laying the foundation for the unification.5

Despite the political fragmentation the German speaking people shared common cultural,

historical and linguistically ties the German language was spoken widely across the region,

though dialects varied considerably by region. Movements like the romantic movements

created a sense of nationalism in the early 19th century and created an idea of unification.

German writers like the Grim brothers, Johann Gottfried etc, wrote folktales, myths and other

pieces creating a sense of shared cultural heritage.6

5
Andrew Roberts The Rise and Fall of Prussia
6
Michael Howard The German Wars: A Concise History 1859-1945

4
Military prowess was highly valued especially in Prussia which had a well trained and

modern army. The Napoleonic wars had left a lasting impact on Germany as many states

were affected by the French occupation and the military experience during the wars helped to

shape the future of German militarism. Wars were common between the different German

states and there were significant tensions over the state and Otto von Bismarck used that to

start the unification process.7

Nationalism, liberalism and even early forms of socialism were growing in influence and it

helped in setting the foundation for the unification as they were growing in influence. Liberal

revolutions like the 1848 uprisings aimed for greater political rights and a unified democratic

Germany though these efforts failed largely. Intellectuals particularly in Prussia and the

northern states were deeply influenced by ideas of national unity and modernity. Meanwhile,

in southern Germany especially in places like Bavaria, there was greater resistance to the

unification due to local traditions and power structures.8

However the main factor that helped the unification process was the various political and

social movements especially in the wake of the revolutions of 1848 called for more a more

democratic and unified Germany. However, these movements were crushed and the various

monarchies and aristocratic elites remained in control.

In the 1860s Otto von Bismarck who was the prime minister of Prussia, played a critical role

in the unification of Germany by a series of strategically crafted wars. The Danish war

(1864), the Austro-Prussian war (1866) and the Franco-Prussian war. These helped to join the

German states under the Prussian leadership.

7
Hugh C. P. Black Bismarck and the Politics of War
8
G. A. Craig “The Making of Modern Germany: Bismarck and the Path to Unification" The Historical Journal

5
Bismarck’s first major diplomatic and military maneuver was the Danish war of 1864.

Denmark attempted to annex the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein, which were homes to

both German speaking populations and Danes. Bismarck saw an opportunity to strengthen

Prussia’s position by taking control of these territories. Bismarck formed an alliance with

Austria to fight Denmark. After a quick and decisive victory, Schleswig and Holstein were

jointly administered by Prussia and Austria. While this war solidified Prussia’s military

dominance, Bismarck used the division of administrative responsibilities to set the stage for

future conflict with Austria, which would become central to his plan for unification.9

Another major event that was led by Otto von Bismarck in the unification of Germany was

the Austro-Prussian war of 1866. This was also known as the seven weeks war. Bismarck

wanted to exclude Austria from German affairs and create a new, unified northern German

confederation under Prussia’s leadership. This required a confrontation from Austria.

Bismarck carefully crafted a diplomatic situation where Austria could be portrayed as the

aggressor, thus isolating it from potential allies. He skillfully neutralized France, Italy and

Russia ensuring that Austria would fight alone. The Austro-Prussian war was swift lasting

only 7 weeks and ended in a decisive Prussian victory. Austria as a result was excluded from

the new northern German confederation. This confederation later formed the foundation for

the new Germany, and Prussia gained absolute control of the northern German states.

Bismarck’s skillful diplomacy during and after this war ensured that Prussia did not become

overly aggressive which would have alienated potential allies. He even avoided humiliating

Austria maintaining a relationship that would benefit Germany in its Austria-Hungary

dealings

Following the Austro-Prussian war, Bismarck consolidated power by forming the north

German confederation in 1867. This was a union of 22 northern German states all under
9
K. H. H. Arnold "The Role of Otto von Bismarck in the Unification of Germany"

6
Prussian leadership. And it excluded Austria and the south German states. The confederations

military, foreign policy and economic affairs were centralized strictly under Prussia. Each

member state retained its own government but they were bound to Prussia’s leadership. Otto

von Bismarck skillfully negotiated with the southern German states such as Bavaria and

Baden to remain loyal to the north German confederation through political and military

alliances, despite their initial reluctance.

The final and most decisive moment in Bismarck’s plan for the unification of Germany came

with the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871. Otto von Bismarck needed a unifying event that

would rally the southern German states to the cause of the German unification and he found it

by simply provoking France into a war. The immediate trigger for the war was the EMS

dispatch, a telegram from the Prussian king Wilhelm I to the French ambassador. Bismarck

edited and published the telegram to make it appear that the king had insulted the ambassador

which later caused an escalated tension between France and Prussia. The French who were

led by emperor napoleon III declared war on Prussia, which played directly into Bismarck’s

hands. The war united the northern and southern German states against a common enemy

France. The Prussian army backed by the southern German states quickly defeated France

after a series of decisive battles. The French were humiliated and their emperor Napoleon III

was captured. the southern states including Bavaria, Württemberg and Baden later joined the

northern German confederation and on January 18, 1871, the German empire was proclaimed

in the hall of mirrors at Versailles with king Wilhelm I of Prussia crowned as the first ever

emperor of Germany.10

After the Franco- Prussian war, Otto von Bismarck’s vision to unify Germany was realized.

The German empire was born with Otto von Bismarck as its first ever chancellor. However

while the empire was united under Prussian leadership it maintained a constitution that
10
Hajo Holborn The Unification of Germany 1815-1871

7
allowed for a degree of federalism with the states retaining some levels of autonomy.

Bismarck skillfully navigated the balance of power between the new empire. He kept the

monarchy at the top but he has his own share of power .Bismarck’s diplomacy and careful

management of European relations ensured that Germany would not face any forms of threats

from its neighbors. He pursued a policy of peaceful coexistence with other powers like

France and Great Britain even while building Germany into a dominant power.

Despite the shared cultural and lingual background shared by the German states, Otto von

Bismarck faced a lot of oppositions during the unification process. Some of which are:

1) Divided German states: before the unification, Germany was fragmented region with

over 39 independent states. Each state with its own monarchy, army and interests. These

states were part of the German confederation a loose association of states created after the

congress of Vienna in 1815. These states had a diverse political, economic and cultural

differences which made it difficult to unite them under one banner. Bismarck needed to

skillfully navigate these divisions and win over both the small and large states while

avoiding alienating powerful entities like Austria.

2) Opposition with Austria: Austria was a major power in central Europe and held a

dominant position in the German confederation. However, Austria’s leadership was seen

as a hindrance to the unification process as its political structure was focused on

preserving its own influence in the region. Bismarck’s challenge was to isolate Austria

diplomatically while ensuring Prussia did not provoke war until was strategically

advantageous.

3) Diplomatic opposition of France: Bismarck understood that France under napoleon the

third posed a threat to Germany’s unification due to its potential to oppose the rise of

united Germany. he pursued a policy of diplomacy to ensure that France would be

diplomatically isolated during the crucial period of the unification. Bismarck

8
 manipulated diplomatic incidents to provoke France into declaring war on Prussia in

1870. This resulted in the Franco Prussian war which later united the German states in

defense of Prussia.

4) Internal resistance from liberal and conservative groups: within Prussia and the

various German states, there were both liberal and conservative forces that were not

entirely in favor of the unification under Prussian leadership. Liberals who wanted a more

democratic, federal structure feared Bismarck’s conservative approach which focused on

a strong central government with the monarchy at the beginning. Additionally, some

German monarchs feared the loss of their autonomy and power in a united Germany.

Bismarck had to balance these competing interests and use political maneuvering to bring

these groups under the idea of the unification while also ensuring the monarchy remained

central to the newly formed German empire.

5) Managing the power struggle in the Catholic Church: once Germany was unified

Bismarck faced opposition from the Catholic Church and its supporters particularly in the

southern states. The church was seen as a powerful institution that could challenge the

newly established authority in the German empire. to address this Bismarck initiated the

cultural struggle in the 1870s which aimed to reduce the church’s influence in German

affairs by implementing policies that created significant opposition and ultimately

backfired, forcing Bismarck to ease up on these policies in the 18700s.

6) Risks of war and military overextension: Bismarck’s unification strategy included

several wars which carried the risks of overextension and military exhaustion. Ensuring

that Germanys military victories did not provoke much animosity or result in excessive

burdens on the country was a constant concern for the country. After the unification, he

ensured to maintain a system of alliances in Europe to avoid conflicts leading to war.

9
7) International diplomacy: Bismarck’s foreign policy which helped with the unification

process also required const ant attention. Maintaining alliances with Austria-Hungary and

Russia while managing a potential rival like France and Britain was a delicate task.

Bismarck’s success in diplomacy ensured Germanys stability for much of the 19th century

but he faced ongoing pressure to maintain peace and avoid conflicts that could destabilize

the new German empire.

8) Dealing with the challenges of modernizing Germany: the rapid industrialization and

modernization of Germany in the late 19th century presented new challenges such as the

integration of newly industrialized regions, managing economic inequality and adjusting

to the states policies to address the demands of changing society. Bismarck had to balance

the interests of the traditional aristocracy and military elites.11

Otto von Bismarck’s rule fundamentally transformed German empire into the most dominant

force in the whole of central Europe. His diplomatic skills ensured that Germany would not

face any forms of immediate challenges from other world powers. He famously said “the

great questions of the day would not be settled by speeches and majority decisions but by iron

and blood” his wars were carefully planned and carried out perfectly to avoid unnecessary

risks. Before the unification of Germany, it was a collection of independent states each with

its own identity, but united by language, culture, and a shared desire for greater political

cohesion. The forces of nationalism, economic development and military competition,

particularly in Prussia eventually led to the unification of Germany in 1871 under Prussian

leadership creating the German empire. The unification of Germany created a powerful new

state in Europe which altered the balance of the continent the German empire under King

Wilhelm and Chancellor Bismarck became a dominant force in European politics setting the

stage for future tensions that would lead to the World War 1. Bismarck’s political genius and

11
K. H. H. Arnold "The Role of Otto von Bismarck in the Unification of Germany"

10
diplomacy played a central role in achieving unification without provoking too much conflict

at least in the short term.12

However in the late 1880s, Otto von Bismarck’s power and influence began to decline. In

1888 after the death of king Wilhelm I and the coronation of his son Wilhelm II, Otto had

less power because Wilhelm was an ambitious monarch and he disagreed with most of Otto’s

policies especially in areas concerning international relations. In 1890, Bismarck was

dismissed by King Wilhelm II who sought to pursue his policies, especially in areas of

foreign diplomacy. Despite his retirement, Bismarck maintained active public figure writing

and giving advices concerning Germany’s future. However his departure had marked a

beginning of a new era in German politics one that eventually led to the tensions that gave

way to the First World War.

In conclusion, Otto von Bismarck’s legacy is a monumental and strategic one. He is often

credited with the unification of Germany turning what had been a patch work of independent

states into a powerful nation. His foreign policy put Germany as a dominant power in Europe

for many years. However his aggressive diplomacy created a highly militarized state that later

gave rise to the tensions that led to the First World War. Bismarck’s combination of

diplomacy, military strategy and political insights made him one of the most important

statesmen in the 19th century. He remains a central and important figure in the history of

Europe.

12
Hajo Holborn The Unification of Germany 1815-1871

11
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Röhl, John C.G. The Iron Chancellor: A Biography of Otto von Bismarck. (Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press, 2018.)

Steinberg, Jonathan. Bismarck: A Life. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011).

Ullrich, Volker. The Iron Chancellor: A Biography. (London: Allen Lane, 2008).

Wehler, Hans-Ulrich. The German Empire, 1871-1918. Leamington Spa: Berg Publishers,
1985.

Jonathan Steinberg Bismarck: A Life (Oxford University Press, 2011)

John Carl Georg Röhl The Iron Chancellor: A Biography of Otto von Bismarck (Cambridge
University Press, 2018)

Derek W. Urwin Bismarck and the Unification of Germany

Andrew Roberts The Rise and Fall of Prussia

Michael Howard The German Wars: A Concise History 1859-1945

Hugh C. P. Black Bismarck and the Politics of War

Hajo Holborn The Unification of Germany 1815-1871

A.J.P. Taylor, Bismarck: The Man and the Statesman (New York: Vintage Books, 1955).

12