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Year Event Details
1862 Otto von Bismarck appointed Minister President of Prussia Bismarck was appointed by King Wilhelm I to resolve a constitutional crisis. He implemented a policy of "blood and iron" to achieve German unification.
1864 Second Schleswig War Prussia and Austria allied against Denmark over the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. The war ended with the Treaty of Vienna, transferring the duchies to Prussian and Austrian administration.
1866 Austro-Prussian War Also known as the Seven Weeks' War. Prussia, allied with Italy, defeated Austria and most other German states. This led to Prussian dominance in German affairs.
1866 North German Confederation formed Following Prussia's victory, the North German Confederation was established, uniting the northern German states under Prussian leadership. Southern German states remained independent but allied with Prussia.
1870 Franco-Prussian War begins Bismarck engineered a diplomatic crisis (the Ems Dispatch) to provoke France into declaring war, uniting the German states against a common enemy.
1871 German victory in Franco-Prussian War The German forces decisively defeated France, capturing Emperor Napoleon III and besieging Paris. This victory paved the way for full German unification.
1871
(January 18)		 Proclamation of the German Empire In the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, Wilhelm I of Prussia was proclaimed German Emperor (Kaiser). This marked the official unification of Germany as an empire.
1871
(April 16)		 Constitution of the German Empire adopted The constitution established a federal structure for the new German state, with Prussia as the dominant power. Bismarck became the first Chancellor of the German Empire.
1871-1890 Bismarck's Chancellorship Bismarck focused on consolidating the new empire, implementing social reforms, and maintaining a balance of power in Europe through complex alliances.
1890 Bismarck resigns as Chancellor Conflicts with the new Emperor Wilhelm II led to Bismarck's resignation, ending his 28-year tenure as the dominant figure in German politics.