In 1862 Bismarck choose to act without the consent of the parliament, he did not want all the talking, speeches and majority decisions but and wanted action or what he called ‘blood and iron’. I think he only used those words to make sure everyone new he was very seriuous and wanted action, but he did not really use a lot of blood and iron. He started with Schleswig-Holstein, which is a reasonably small state. It seems as if Bismarck only wanted this to create tension between Prussia and Austria. He uses Austria as an ally to attack Schleswig-Holstein, and then makes sure that they become enemies when Austria gets to rule Holstein and Prussia to rule Schleswig. This situation led to war, but the Austrians declared war to the Prussians which was a mistake. The Prussians had a highly skilled military and an industrialized support system that led them to a speedy victory in the Seven's Week War. The Austrians lost Venetia to the Italians and a lot of territory to the Prussians. In 1867, the north German states joined the North German Confederation which Prussia controlled completely, practically putting them under the control of Bismarck and Wilhelm I. The North German Confederation united many northern German states. The southern states however, did nor want to be ruled by the Protestant Prussia because they were catholic. So Bismarck created another incident based on his diplomatic knowledge and nationalism. He send a telegram to the french in which he insulted them. They wanted to repair the French glory, and so attacked the Prussians but again because of the good military and economy they were able to win again Bismarck got independent states to join under his leadership in order to reach their goals of a unified German states. This was all supposedly through the power of nationalism. I also suspect the nations were threatened by Bismarck and his military might. The entire confederation was ruled by Bismarck and Wilhelm I. Bismarck was able to unite Germany both with nationalism as the starting, beginning force, but then using blood and iron to force people to comply and unite with his wishes.
Economically I think that Prussia did not really gain from the unification as they already had a really strong economy. The german states had free trade with Prussia already and after the unification the economy only got stronger becuase there are more workforces and resources which were used better. The german states did not have that good economy. because it was overshadowed by the British. But because of the Prussian railways and strong industries boosted the german states’ economy. The German empire had now more resources and with the management of the Prussian it was a successful formula. The German textiles and metal industries had by the beginning of the surpassed those of Britain in organization and technical efficiency and usurped British manufacturers in the domestic market. Germany became the dominant economic power on the continent and was the second largest exporting nation after the US. By the turn of the century, the German metals and engineering industries would be producing heavily for the free trade market of Britain. The unification made the German empire even stronger. Also becuase they had such a strong economy a lot of money could be spend on the military. Which grew and had really strong weapons all due to the flourishing economy.
But the biggest problems were the cultural differences between the different states. Following the incorporation of the Catholic German states in the south and some areas in the east, , represented by the , was seemingly a threat to the unification process. Southern Catholics, coming from a much more agrarian base and falling under the ranks of the peasantry, artisans, guildsmen, clergy, and princely aristocracies of the small states more often than their Protestant counterparts in the North, initially had trouble competing with industrial efficiency and the opening of outside trade by the . Roman Catholic institutions were obstructed and Catholic influence on society was fought by the Bismarck government. After 1878 however, the struggle against socialism would unite Bismarck with the Catholic Centre Party, bringing an end to the Kulturkampf, which had led to far greater Catholic unrest than existed beforehand and had strengthened rather than weakened Catholicism in Germany. The fact that Germany fought the first world war because of nationalism. You can say that this is a fact that Germany fought as one union, with a very strong economy and army.
Answering the essay question: in what way and to what extent between 1862-1871 was Germany unified under Prussia? I can say that Prussia was a very strong state which, with the help of Bismarck was able to create an empire. Prussia was still the main centre, the governmental and military decision were made in Prussia. But the German government was trying to make a better Prussia and so also make a strong Prussia. Also the southern German states chose to be included in the empire, with that decision they had to obey the authorities. Although the german states had to obey the Prussians in some way, the Prussians also listened to the German states becuase they knew that if they did not they will cause uproar and then they could say goodbye to their empire. In the Kulturkampf the religion seemed a big problem but the anti-socialist opinion seemed to bring the country together. Also Bismarck was able to create a nationalistic feeling. So I think that the German empire was led by the Prussians but as they were very strong they eventually created a new stronger and bigger empire under the wings of Prussia.
The personal ambition is the key point to answering the question. He was known as a true Prussian, who loved his nationality, and was not planning to mix Prussian culture and rules with the rest of Germany. The fact that he as a Prussian leader was able to
" We all wish that the Prussian eagle should spread out his wings as guardian and ruler from the Memel to the Donnersberg, but free will we have him, not bound by a new Regensburg Diet. Prussians we are and Prussians will we remain; I know that in these words I speak the confession of the Prussian army and the majority of my fellow-countrymen, and I hope to God that we will still long remain Prussian when this sheet of paper is forgotten like a withered autumn leaf."(bismarck)
