Otto von Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck was born at Schonhausen on I April 1815. Bismarck came from a Pomeranian Junker family. Bismarck grew up in the powerful German state of Prussia. When Bismarck was young, he was a big man due to eating and drinking too much; he was always ready for a duel. Bismarck wore a full beard for long periods of his life. Bismarck went to the best Berlin grammar school; then he went to study laws at the University of Gottingen in Hanover and University of Berlin. After qualifying the examination, Bismarck entered Prussian civil service and became a judicial administrator at Aachen. His career in the civil service was not a success. Bismarck served there for a short period of time. When he finished serving Bismarck was 24. Bismarck married with Johanna von Puttkamer when he was 30. Bismarck believed that he shared the same belief with the God in making Prussia strong and in unifying Germany; he had once said, "You would not have had such a Chancellor if I had not the wonderful basis of religion" (21). In 1847, Bismarck became a member of the united diet. Bismarck opposed every liberal proposal. In 1848, the ideals of French Revolution spread to Germany. There was a popular uprising of liberals in German
The Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) finally achieved the unification of Germany. The struggle of acquiring Luxembourg between France and Prussia gave Bismarck a chance to fight with France. In 1868, Spain invited Prince Leopold, a member of Prussian royal family, to become King. France opposed and did not want to have a Hohenzollern ruler on its borders and was willing to go to war with France. As a result, King William denounced its relativeness of Leopold. Bismarck used this event to provoke the feelings of unity among all Germans. And he then made treaties with eht south German states. More important, when William's report of the denouncement reached Berlin, Bismarck edited the version. The Bismarck's version of "Ems telegram," made William had insulted France. As a result, Napoleon was angered and France declared war on Prussia, as Bismarck intended. During the war, the southern German states allied with Prussia. France lost the war. At the harsh Treaty of Frankfurt, France had to give up Alsace and Lorraine to Germany and a billion dollar indemnity. When the war was over, Germany was united. y. Conservative Bismarck opposed the liberal revolution in 1848. In 1851, Bismarck gained prominence and was chosen to become the Prussian delegate to the Federal diet when he was 36. During the Crimean War, Bismarck convinced the government to refuse to mobilize army of the German Federal diet to help Austria in Balkans. Bismarck saw no point to help Austria: "I don't recognize any right in foreign policy" (29). Bismarck also worried that it might alienate other countries. Thus, Prussia stayed neutrality. In 1863 King Frederick VII of Denmark died. The lands of Holstein and Sleswig became a problem. Holstein was settled entirely by Germans and was a member of the German Confederation. But it was a union with Denmark. When the new Denmark king wanted to incorporate Holstein, Bismarck opposed it and wanted to have a war with Denmark to take back the land. However Bismarck was worried that the other Great Powers would unite against Prussia. As a result, Bismarck formed an alliance with Austria against Denmark. The alliance was a success and no other nation helped Denmark. Consequently, Denmark was defeated and surrendered Holstein and Sleswig to Prussia and Austria jointly. The Danish War started to show the genius of Bismarck in military leadership. When Bismarck became prime minister of Prussia, he devoted himself to the task of unifying Germany. Bismarck had no real devotion to the monarchy. He wanted to have absolute control. Usually, nationalism had been related with liberalism, but Bismarck made a conservative national
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Approximate Word count = 1802
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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