[BLANK-1] was the architect of German unification. This Germ…
was the architect of German unification. This German nationalist believed in a concept known as realpolitik – pragmatic politics of blood and iron. He orchestrated wars of expansion such as the Schleswig-Holstein War, Austro-Prussian War, and Franco-Prussian War in order to expand German territory (centered around the large state of Prussia). He used nationalism to support the authoritarian Prussian government and appealed directly to the people by creating a legislature with members of the lower house elected by universal male suffrage (thus allowing him to bypass the middle class). With victory against France in 1871, this aristocratic German minister cemented the unification of Germany.