What was the result of Otto von Bismarck's reign?

• A. The merging of 39 independent German states into a single, powerful Empire.
• B. The division of Germany into many small states.
• C. The unification of Italy.
• D. The dissolution of European balance of power.

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is the unification of German-speaking lands into one nation-state under Prussian leadership. Otto von Bismarck used pragmatic, realpolitik-style diplomacy and a series of decisive wars—the Danish War, the Austro-Prussian War, and the Franco-Prussian War—to bring the 39 independent German states together. The result was the German Empire proclaimed in 1871, with Prussia playing the leading role and the king of Prussia serving as emperor. This transformed a loose collection of states into a single, powerful empire and fundamentally altered the European balance of power.