<Li> 1861--62: King Wilhelm I became King of Prussia and he appointed Otto von Bismarck on 23 September 1862, Minister President and Foreign Minister, who favoured a' blood - and - iron' policy to create a united Germany under the leadership of Prussia . </Li> <Li> 1864: The Danish - Prussian War started as Prussia protested against Danish incorporation of Schleswig into the Kingdom of Denmark . The Austrian Empire was deliberately drawn into this war by Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor of Prussia . The Austro - Prussian victory led to Schleswig, the northern part, being governed by Prussia and Holstein, the southern part, being governed by Austria, as per the Treaty of Vienna (1864). </Li> <Li> 1866: Bismarck accused the Austrian Empire of stirring up troubles in Prussian - held Schleswig . Prussian troops drove into Austrian - held Holstein and took control of the entire state of Schleswig - Holstein . Austria declared war on Prussia and, after fighting the Austro - Prussian War (Seven Weeks' War), was swiftly defeated . The Treaty of Prague (1866) formally dissolved the German Confederation and Prussia created the North German Confederation to include all Germanic states except the pro-French, southern kingdoms of Bavaria, Baden and Württemberg . </Li> <Li> 1870: When the French emperor, Napoleon III, demanded territories of the Rhineland in return for his neutrality amid the Austro - Prussian War, Bismarck used the Spanish Succession Question (1868) and Ems Telegram (1870) as an opportunity to incorporate the southern kingdoms . Napoleon III declared war against Prussia . </Li>

Which were instrumental in the unification of germany