He came from Prussia's Junker class, made up of conservative landowning nobles.
Bismarcks blood and iron speech opened people's eyes and people in a Germany where more unified.Bismarck was motivated to introduce social insurance in Germany both in order to promote the well-being of workers in order to keep the German economy operating at maximum efficiency, and to stave-off calls for more radical socialist alternatives.
Bismarck used Realpolitik, ruthless politics that puts the goals of the state ahead of any other concern (basically "ends justify the means" politics.) Specifically, in addition to ignoring Prussian law when he felt it necessary, he manipulated his way into wars--with Denmark, Austria, and France--to stir up German nationalism so he could accomplish unification.
Bismarck also used the policy of Kulturkampf. This is a struggle for culture. He did so by attacking the Catholic Church, which creates a common enemy amung the North Germans. He eventually fails, but this common enemy helps to unify Germany.
He emphasized a common history amung the Germans. He used Brothers Grimm, which were two brothers that wrote a collection of German fairytales including Rapunzel, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rumpelstiltskin, and Snow White, to show that even though the people of Germany may be different, they were still very much the same. They had the same customs, language, and traditions.
The wars that Otto von Bismarck manipulated his way into were also a way of unifying Germany. Win after win got the people of Germany stirring about their great army and navy. He removed the threat of Austria, then took land from the Danish, and beat out the French. Bismarck successfully conquered the European world and united Germany.
The Zollverein Trade and Tariff Union was an economic aid to Bismarck's unification of Germany. It brought down the barriers between states and helped to create an interdependence amung them.
Otto Von Bismarck Quotes A government must not waiver once it has chosen it's course. It must not look to the left or right but go forward. Otto von Bismarck
A journalist is a person who has mistaken their calling. Otto von Bismarck
A statesman... must wait until he hears the steps of God sounding through events, then leap up and grasp the hem of His garment. Otto von Bismarck
All treaties between great states cease to be binding when they come in conflict with the struggle for existence. Otto von Bismarck
An appeal to fear never finds an echo in German hearts. Otto von Bismarck
Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war. Otto von Bismarck
Be polite; write diplomatically; even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of politeness. Otto von Bismarck
I have seen three emperors in their nakedness, and the sight was not inspiring. Otto von Bismarck
Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made. Otto von Bismarck
Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied. Otto von Bismarck
No civilization other than that which is Christian, is worth seeking or possessing. Otto von Bismarck
People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election. Otto von Bismarck
Otto Von Bismarck
Otto Von Bismarck Quotes
A government must not waiver once it has chosen it's course. It must not look to the left or right but go forward.
Otto von Bismarck
A journalist is a person who has mistaken their calling.
Otto von Bismarck
A statesman... must wait until he hears the steps of God sounding through events, then leap up and grasp the hem of His garment.
Otto von Bismarck
All treaties between great states cease to be binding when they come in conflict with the struggle for existence.
Otto von Bismarck
An appeal to fear never finds an echo in German hearts.
Otto von Bismarck
Anyone who has ever looked into the glazed eyes of a soldier dying on the battlefield will think hard before starting a war.
Otto von Bismarck
Be polite; write diplomatically; even in a declaration of war one observes the rules of politeness.
Otto von Bismarck
I have seen three emperors in their nakedness, and the sight was not inspiring.
Otto von Bismarck
Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made.
Otto von Bismarck
Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied.
Otto von Bismarck
No civilization other than that which is Christian, is worth seeking or possessing.
Otto von Bismarck
People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election.
Otto von Bismarck
Politics is not an exact science.
Otto von Bismarck
Politics is the art of the next best.
Otto von Bismarck
Politics is the art of the possible.
Otto Von Bismarck