ABSTRACT
The term ‘Germany’ had no real political significance at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The numerous states that made it up were loosely bound by their membership of the old Holy Roman Empire. The German Empire, or Second Reich, was created in 1871, and was founded on an unequal alliance between the national and liberal movements and the conservative Prussian state-leadership. The German Empire included Prussia, the kingdoms of Bavaria, Saxony and Württemberg, eighteen lesser states, three free cities and Alsace-Lorraine. During the nineteenth century there were three major steps towards unification: the creation of the German Confederation; the formation of the German Customs Union; and the period of the decline of Austrian influence. In reality the system was ruled by one man, who was responsible only to the Emperor.
