German unification · 1862-1871

Bismarck and the making of Germany

Through three short wars in seven years, Prussia's Otto von Bismarck turns dozens of German states into one empire, proclaimed in the palace of the French kings. Students follow "blood and iron" on the map and ask whose Germany it was.

Teach it live New Open on the map
Length
50 minutes
Ages
13–16
On the map
3 steps, AD 1848 to AD 1800
Live lesson
7 rounds, 3 on the map
Worksheet
Two A4 pages, with Classroom
You need
A projector; phones for live

Live lesson · new in Classroom

Teach it live. The class answers on their phones.

Put the board on the projector. Students join with a six-digit code, no account needed, and tap the map: where was the frontier, where did the grain come from. Their pins drop in together when you reveal, and the closest student takes the round.

€19 per month: every lesson live, every worksheet, cancel anytime. Rome at its height runs live for free.

A live lesson on the projector: the class's pins on the map around Alexandria, the closest students listed beside it A student's phone: the question and a map to tap
7 rounds
3 places to find on the map, quiz questions, a class vote and a one-line answer.
About 15 minutes
Run it as the map step, or to open the discussion. You move on with the space bar.
A report
Every answer, per student and per round, to read back or print after the lesson.
1

Introduction

5 min

Read aloud

Through three short wars in seven years, Prussia's Otto von Bismarck turns dozens of German states into one empire, proclaimed in the palace of the French kings. Students follow "blood and iron" on the map and ask whose Germany it was.

By the end of the lesson, students can

  • Explain how Prussia united Germany through the wars of 1864, 1866 and 1870-1871.
  • Describe Bismarck's methods and what he meant by "blood and iron".
  • Explain the results of the Franco-Prussian War for France and Germany.
2

Explore the map

15 min

Project the map, or let students follow on their own devices. Each step opens the map at the right year and place.

a

AD 1848

Many Germanies

Open the map in 1848 and zoom in on the German lands. Count as many states as you can. Which two big powers competed to lead them?

Open this view on the map
b

AD 1880

One empire

Drag the slider to 1880. What has replaced the many states? Which French region now lies inside Germany?

Open this view on the map
c

AD 1800

An old patchwork

Open the map in 1800 and turn on Historical Maps to see the Holy Roman Empire in 1789. Compare that patchwork with the German Empire of 1880.

Open this view on the map
3

Class discussion

15 min

Pick two or three. They run from what happened to why it mattered.

  1. The Zollverein, a customs union, linked most German states in trade from 1834. How can trade prepare the way for political union?
  2. Bismarck fought Denmark, Austria and France one at a time. Why was that clever?
  3. Germany was united by princes and generals, not by an elected parliament. Does that matter?
  4. The German Empire was proclaimed at Versailles, in France. Why choose that place, and how would the French feel?
  5. Taking Alsace-Lorraine made France a lasting enemy. Was that a mistake?
4

Game round

10 min

Play Frederick the Great in Rule History: he made Prussia a great power a century earlier. Discuss: which of his choices look like Bismarck's, and what did Bismarck do differently?

Open Rule History
5

Worksheet

5 min

This worksheet comes with Classroom

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