1) Otto von Bismarck was appointed by King William I of Prussia to head the Prussian government and pursue German unification through military strength and nationalism.
2) Bismarck provoked Austria into the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and secured victory, expelling Austria from German affairs.
3) Bismarck then defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, allowing him to complete German unification under Prussian leadership and creating a unified German state led by Prussia.