German Unification-Important Factors

(1)Leadership
Bismarck played an important role~ when he came into power, he had everything laid out for him. It was a matter of how he utilizes them.
Recognized opportunities and utilized them to Germany s benefit (used the Luxemburg issue to gain public opinion of the three Southern German states against France. This led to the Franco-Prussian war of 1870)
Final phase of unification took place when there was a strong disagreement between France and Prussia about the union of the three south German states with the North Confederation. This led to the Franco-Prussian war,
It was Bismarck s intention to inflame the 3 south German states with anti-French feelings so as to get then to be favourable towards the North Confederation.
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