HISTORICAL CRISIS COMMITTEE: THE UNIFICATION OF GERMAN EMPIRE

In 1864 the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein were taken from Denmark and placed under the joint administration of Austria and Prussia. The balance of power in Europe was altered when what started as a regional conflict swiftly turned into a continental crisis. While Prussia fought to assert itself as the leading German power, Austria aimed to maintain its vast, multiethnic empire during this turbulent period in European history. With their future at stake, the German states were forced to choose between compromise and conflict. In the meantime, France's ambitions, Britain's caution and Russia's influence remained to be the deciding elements in every choice.