The eventual unification of Germany in 1871under a dominant Prussia was the culmination of many inter-related factors. The complete dominance Prussia had obtained in this arena was no accident. By playing with German Nationalism, Prussian Economic Power, War, the international situation and the failures of the Austrian State Bismark had managed to guide Germany into an overwhelming position of power.

Arguably, this state of complete political control originally stemmed from economic control. In the form of the Zollverein, Prussia had extended trading links with virtually all of Germany by 1834i. Thus, by increasing the economic ties of Germany with Prussia, Prussia had also increased the need for Prussian backing upon those states with whom they traded. "During the [first] eighteen years that the Zollverein [had] existed contacts in trade [had] become some many and the interests ... so interlocked... that the tearing apart of these countries would be accompanied by the most damaging effects upon industry and trade"ii. Also, because the states that traded within the Zollverein were used to the rule of Prussia economically, it also meant that they were also more

iv Bismark, Reflections and Reminisces (1898)

Thus with French hatred whipped up to a frenzy, all that the Prussian's needed to extend their influence was a war. Again by manipulating international affairs, Bismarck secured this. This time the events came in the form of the Hohenzollern Candidature. Here, after the overthrow of Isabella II, a new king was sought to rule the new constitutional monarchy. The post had subsequently been offered to a one Prince Leopold, a member of the same Hohenzollern family as William I. To the Prussians, this offered an extremely sympathetic ear strategically place on the other French border, and to the French a Prussian puppet again on their southern-most border. Napoleon III felt himself obliged to go with public opinion and declare that the Prussians would not become any more involved in Spanish affairs. However, after careful manipulation of Napoleon's request through the Ems telegram, Bismark had achieved the war he had sought. Thus German unity was furthered through the deliberately prolonged war, which in the end saw a rousing, victorious birth to the Second Reich. These victories came about, as I said before through successful manipulation of the international situation by Bismarck, and the industrial might of Prussia. However one thing that we must not forget is the role system of governments. The government of France did not fight effectively because of its nature. It was a democratic, populist government, which by definition is not effective at taking the tough decisions necessary for war. However in Prussia the hard-line centralist monarchy offered complete control over the difficult organisation process. In addition to the manipulation of current affairs by Bismark, we should also remember that this period was characterised by a period of non-intervention by Britain and Russia, who saw the Balance of power as being upheld by Prussia.

prepared for Prussian rule politically. Thus, in 1867 the creation of the Zollparlament, which was to administer the closer cooperation between north and south Germany, was more widely accepted than in the Zollverein had not been in place.

Next came Italy and France. In 1865 Bismark paid an informal visit to see Napoleo

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