The Wars of Liberation began in 1813. Napoleon’s army had been demolished in Russia a year earlier. Germany was freed from French rule after the Battle of Nations at Leipzig. Napoleon’s Confederation of the Rhine ceased to exist. Eventually, Napoleon was defeated at Waterloo by Prussian and English forces.

The German Confederation was established under the Congress of Vienna in 1814. This was a union of 39 states under the control of Austria. Inspired by the patriotic notions and ideals of a united Germany, liberal student organizations began to form. The student Karl Sand murdered writer August von Kotzebue in 1819, because the latter had derided the student organizations. In reaction, the Carlsbad conference was called and attended by Austria, Prussia and eight other states. The Carlsbad Decrees were introduced. These included censorship and supervision of universities.

The German states revolted against the political order enforced by the Vienna Congress in 1848. This was known as the March Revolution. The German national assembly met to draft a national German constitution in May of that year. Sadly, the attempt proved futile and the national assembly was dissolved. The uprisings were suppressed by force and the German Confederation was reinstated in 1850.

Otto von Bismarck was appointed chief minister of Prussia in 1862. After the Second War of Schleswig between Prussia and Denmark, the latter was forced to cede the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein to Prussia and Austria. Control of the new territories proved a problematic issue, sparking the Austro-Prussian War in 1866. The Prussians triumphed in the final battle at Koeniggratz.

The German Confederation was dissolved in 1867, and The North German Confederation was established in its place. It endured until 1871, the year the German Empire under Bismarck was proclaimed. France declared war on Prussia in 1870. A year later it was over, and France had to cede Alsace and parts of Lorraine to Germany. King Wilhelm I of Prussia was proclaimed Emperor of Germany in 1871. An empire with 25 states was founded. Three of these states were Hanseatic cities. Bismarck took the post of Chancellor. Austria was excluded from this setup.