Otto von Bismarck

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Otto von Bismarck

• Founder of the German Empire

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Early Life

• Born April 1, 1815
• Prince Otto Eduard Leopold
• von Bismarck-Schönhausen
• Duke of Lauenburg
• Graf (count) since birth

11 years old
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Early Life

• Born in Schönhausen, Prussian province of Saxony
  (now Saxony-Anhalt)

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Early Life

• 1832 studies law at Göttingen University
• 1833 studies law at University of Berlin
• Judicial Minister at Aachen

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Family Life

• 1839 Mother, Wilhemine dies
• 1847 Marries Johanna von Puttkamer

32 years old
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Political Life

• 1849 Elected to Landtag
• Opposed unification
• 1851-1859 represents Prussia in Federal diet
• 1859 Ambassador to Russia
• 1862 Ambassador to France
• 1862 Minister President and Foreign Minister

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Political Life

• Dedicated to unifying German states
• Used diplomacy and Prussian military to unite
  German states
• Wins wars against Austria (1866) and France
  (1870-1871)
• 1866 unites Bavaria, Wüttemburg, Baden, and Hesse
  with Prussia and Northern German States

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Political Life

• 1871 declaration of Deutsches Reich (German
  Empire)
• Appointed Imperial Chancellor
• Makes administrative reforms

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Political Life

• Dedicated to keeping peace in Europe
• 1879 formed alliance with Austria-Hungary
• 1890 policies come under attack and is forced to
  resign
• Appointed duke upon resignation

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Rest of Life

• Worked on his Memoirs until his death
• Died July 30, 1898

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Summary of his achievements

• Unification of Germany
• Able to keep Germany united
• Restrained political opposition

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How he unified Germany?

• "the great questions of the day will not be
  decided by speeches and the resolutions of
  majorities that was the great mistake from 1848
  to 1849 but by iron and blood." - Bismarck

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Sources

• http//www.deutsche-schutzgebiete.de/bismarck.htm
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otto_von_Bismarck
• http//www.germanembassy-india.org/news/98july/gn0
  7.htm