Wanderlust World Wanderlust World
- Bismarck of Prussia sought to unify Germany and started a war against France.
- The war resulted in a decisive Prussian victory and the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership.
- France lost control of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany, which sparked a desire for revenge.
1872 - Completion of German Unification
- The German Empire was officially proclaimed, with Kaiser Wilhelm I as its emperor.
- Germany became the most powerful state in continental Europe.
1873-1875 - Long Depression
- A global economic crisis led to a recession across Europe.
- Unemployment and social unrest increased, sparking fears of revolution.
1875 - Kulturkampf in Germany
- German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck launched a campaign against the Catholic Church, aiming to reduce its influence in Germany.
- Relations between the government and the Catholic Church became strained.
1878 - Congress of Berlin
- A European conference was held in Berlin to resolve the aftermath of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878.
- The conference redrew the borders of the Balkans, sparking further tensions.
1882 - Dual Alliance
- Germany and Austria-Hungary entered into an alliance, aimed at mutual protection against Russia and France.
- The formation of the alliance intensified the diplomatic tensions between the European powers.
1882 - Triple Alliance
- Italy joined the Dual Alliance, forming the Triple Alliance.
- The alliance system heightened the rivalries and divisions in Europe.
1884-1885 - Berlin Conference
- A European conference was held in Berlin to regulate European colonization and trade in Africa.
- The conference established rules for partition of Africa among the European powers.
1890 - Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty
- Germany and Britain signed a treaty, in which Germany ceded the island of Heligoland to Britain in exchange for the island of Zanzibar and other territories in Africa.
- The treaty further strained relations between Britain and Germany.