GERMAN UNIFICATION PROCESS:

Seven Weeks' War - June/July 1866:

• tension gradually built up between the two states
• in addition to this, Prussia made a secret pact with both Napoleon III of France and Italy:
  - the meeting with Napoleon was at Biarritz, October 1865 settled that France would remain neutral in a possible war
  - Italy agreed to support Prussia in the upcoming war (settled April 1866)
• also, Prussia made proposals to change the German constitution in their favour - putting the country in a dominating postion
• Austria clearly disagreed with this, as it would reduce their influence overall
• in April 1866, the Austria mobilised their troops because they were afraid of a possible surprise attack
• this gave Prussia the excuse it needed to invade
• Prussia mobilised their troops in May, responding to Austria's actions
• Bismarck sent troops into Holstein, but to his dismay the Austrian's withdrew
• to cause more problems, Bismarck decided to make reforms to the constitution:
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