From individual states of Germany to the nation state

in 1871

1864

German war against Denmark Denmark had to cede Schleswig and

Holstein to Germany That’ s why Denmark withdrew from the

German Confederation

1866

War of Prussia against Austria, Hannover, Sachsen, and the German Southerns

The Austrian had a fatal defeat

at Königgrätz

1870/71

In the German-French war the German

Southerns fought at the side of Prussia

and after defeat, France had to cede Elsass

and Lothringen to the German Confederation

18. 1. 1871

King Wilhelm I. of Prussia was proclaimed to the German Emperor in the hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles

http://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Datei:Kaiserkroenung-Versailles-1871.jpg&filetimestamp=20081210111235

18th January 1871

The new German Empire was

founded.

A loose confederation out of

25 states was transformed

into one big national state.

But all of them had their own

culture, so it was important

to form a national culture.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ztCgZs9Zr28/TNgnSTI5taI/AAAAAAAAABM/bhl6yqoMTuw/s1600/596px-Deutsches_Reich1_svg+1871-1918.png

After the Unification of 1871

Germany‘s economy grew and grew.

An enormous process of industialisation started.

A lot of important inventions were made by German Scientists like Robert Koch.

The living conditions got better and better.

Electrcity and water came into houses.

http://www.hagen-dahl.com/projekte/volmehangweg/Ehemalige-Brotfabrik.png

Problems:

Although Germany‘s economy was really progressive,

old fashioned traditions and attitudes dominated the

higher society.

Germany got stronger and stronger and demanded

more room for the new nation.

The Kaiser wanted colonies like France, Britain or Spain.

http://www.bismarcktuerme.de/174er%20Breite%20Grafiken/Bismarck/BismarckundWilhelm.jpg

Kaiser Wilhelm and Bismarck