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=__German Unification__=

__Basic German Unification Facts__

 * Otto Von Bismarck was the main supporter of German unification
 * Germany's unification took place during the 19th century
 * The German Confederation was headed by Austria
 * Germany was unified in January 1871
 * War helped German unification [[image:http://www.clker.com/cliparts/0/b/c/7/11949844971468298061lamp_sergio_luiz_araujo__01.svg.med.png width="100" height="176" align="right"]]
 * Prussia was the main German state pushing towards unification

**__Interesting Facts__**
 * The Zollverein is an economic union
 * Kaiser is another name for emperor
 * Germany was in war with both Napoleon I and Napoleon III
 * Prior to German unification there were about 300 German states

__Struggle With Napoleon__
In the early 1800's, most of the German states were conquered by Napoleon. Napoleon made new changes for these German states by annexing lands and making new laws. His new laws angered many Germans and sparked a strong feeling of nationalism and unification against Napoleon and France. In the end, Germany was able to free itself from France, but Germany was unable to unify into one state. == ==

__Prussia__
Prussia had a huge influence in German unification history. Through the 18th and the 19th century, it became a great power under the rule of Frederick the Great, later Chancellor Bismarck would unite Germany into a "Lesser Germany", and eventually exclude Austria. Prussia ruled Germany politically, economically, and in population. Also, it was the head of the North German Confederation, that would later become part of the German Empire. Finally, at the fall of the Hohenzollen dynasty, Prussia would become an independant state from Germany in 1919. Later to be reabsorbed by Nazi Germany in 1934.

__North German Confederation__
The North German Confederation, or the Norddeutscher Bund was created in August 1866. It originally became a military alliance of 22 states of northern Germany, with Prussia leading it. In July 1867, it was changed into a state, having its own laws and even a constitution. It would later be essential to the German Empire.

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