Germany was ultimately unified under Bismarck even though his methods and tactics were quite manipulative of the population and government. By operating on his own agenda and only revealing what was necessary for his particular goal at a particular time, he was able to keep much of the leaders and citizens in the dark without them knowing it.

As we talked about in class, he adhered to a "realpolitik" mindset which is revolutionary because it is realistic as opposed to idealistic. By enacting policies such as universal suffrage, he manipulates the middle class into thinking they will be more generally represented while the ones that are actually gaining a vote, the rural peasants, often lean more conservatively. Later, he creates the Reichstag or lower house elected by universal male suffrage. But since this house has no compensation, only the elite are able to accept representative positions. When domestic trouble begins to brew, he wins a quick imperial war to improve moral and end these uprisings. When the Minister of War wanted a larger army, longer servitude and the elimination of local militias, etc..., Bismarck was able to sidestep the parliament, collect taxes, and reallocate them towards the military.

In foreign affairs, Bismarck is just as manipulative. He leads Austria to declare war on what they think is a weak Prussian force, just to let them fall to the improved Prussian army (which he had bolstered through the Constitutional Conflict) and ultimately, takes them out of the German problem of what Germany will soon become.

In short, Bismarck stuck to a "realpolitik" policy to get done what he wanted to without care for misleading, manipulating, or representing those who were initially discontent. Through his manipulation of the people and government, he guided their perception to believe he was the one who was improving and unifying Germany when what he was really doing is manipulating certain parts of government and the people to create the Germany that he envisioned. Granted that he is revered as the father and unifier of Germany, his methods were far from straight-forward.