Bismarck Course Essay- "evaluate the reasons for the growth of Prussia's influence in Germany by 1862" In 1815 there was no such thing as a German State or Nation. In the geographical area known as Germany the most powerful state was Austria which was the biggest factor in the increase of Prussia's influence by 1862. Prussia was the second most powerful state but she was far behind Austria politically and economically. In 1815 the Austrian foreign minister Metternich made …showed first 75 words of 1291 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1291 total…The Austrian government didn't realise that they needed to do what the Prussians were doing with the nationalists and that they needed to play a clever game. They thought that they were somehow greater than the Prussians even when they clearly weren't and this is what ultimately cost them. This was the biggest reason but there was also a lot of hard work from Prussian politicians such as Bismarck who ensured that Prussia overtook Austria.