Thesis Statement

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The Germanic states were a loose collection of German speaking principalities for over 1000 years known as the Holy Roman Empire.  They were divided by many issues and often at war with each other and rival countries.  During the Napoleonic Wars, the people living in the Germanic states developed a strong sense of nationalism.  In 1861, King Wilhelm I became King of Prussia and made Otto von Bismarck his primary Minister.  In 1871 Bismarck became Chancellor of the German Empire and used his skill as a politician, military might, and his iron will to unite Germany for the first time and create a world power.