PowerPoint (with 10 slides) and two Word Documents that covers Otto von Bismarck’s early life up to and including his rise to Chief Minister of Prussia in 1862. The lesson also covers the succession of King William I to the Prussian throne in 1861 and the crisis created by Albrecht von Roon’s Army Reforms, Bismarck’s character and the meaning of Realpolitik.

Activities include

• Starter gap fill on Bismarck’s background and early life.
• Discussions on the impact of King William I’s succession on Prussian politics.
• Discussion on the attitudes of Prussian liberals to Albrecht von Roon’s army reforms.
• Main activity to identify various characteristics of Bismarck’s personality and principles based on the analysis of four sources including the Blood and Iron speech.
• Introduction of the idea of Realpolitik and the extent that Bismarck had already demonstrated this approach to politics by 1862.
• Plenary discussion on the extent to which Bismarck appears to be a German nationalist using two of the earlier sources as prompts.

Designed for the teaching of OCR History Y314 The Development of German Nationalism 1789-1919.
Lesson Length: 1hr depending on pace.

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