Q: How important was Bismarck's leadership in the achievement of German unification?
In January 1871, in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, the unification of Germany was declared: a monumental landmark in European history as the threat of a new superpower, established and conducted by the dominating state of Prussia, loomed over the surrounding countries. It appears on the surface that the prospect of this great unification even 20 years ago would have seemed intangible, and the immensity of such a task would require a leader capable of harnessing Prussia's resources and demonstrating the diplomatic skill to exploit the new balance of forces in Europe. Both of these were provided by Otto Von Bismarck, appointed Prussia's minister-president on the 22nd of September 1862. He tactfully asserted Prussia's dominance and drove unification through his monarchial, autocratic and conservative leadership style, articulation and ability to manipulate, isolation of his enemies, and the introduction of reforms which led him victorious through 3 wars. Though once widely regarded as being solely responsible for unification, modern historians agree that he did not build the German empire from nothing, arguing that he played more of a catalytic role, and without other influential factors such as the creation of the Zollverein and Prussian economy, cultural and political nationalism, and the decline of Austria, he wouldn't have been nearly as successful.
Bismarck became more officially involved in the political scene in 1861, when William I succeeded to the throne of Prussia. Like Bismarck, he firmly supported the ideal of German unification under the rule of a Prussian king without Austrian control, and in 1860 - whilst still acting as regent - William I decided to raise the strength of the Prussian army. However, the liberal-dominated Prussian parliament were opposed to such plans, which involved raising conscription from 2 to 3 years, placing...