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was a major player in the unification of Germany. This Prussian junker, or aristocrat, was a Prussian nationalist and later a German nationalist. As Chief Minister to Wilhelm I of Prussia, he devised and executed a "klein-deutsch" (excluding Austria) plan to ....

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.... This convention declared joint control over Schleswig-Holstein. Two years later, Bismarck accused Austria of violating the Gastein Convention. At this time he also submitted a plan for German unification to the German Diet. This plan excluded Austria (klein-deutsch). As a result of this, Austria and other German states declared war on Prussia, beginning what is now known as the Seven Weeks War. Austria and its allies were quickly defeated, and Bismarck incorporated Schleswig-Holstein, Hannover, and some other territories into Prussia. However, Austria was treated kindly in the peace settlement. In 1866, the old German Confederation was t ....