Answer:
Otto von Bismarck wanted to unify Germany in order to expand Prussia’s power and influence in Europe. He saw unification as a way to strengthen the position of the King of Prussia, Wilhelm I, countering the demands for reform from the Liberals in the Prussian Reichstag. Additionally, he wanted to create a strong unified German state that could compete with the other major powers of Europe. In order to achieve this, he negotiated with representatives of the southern German states, offering special concessions and creating alliances to bring them into the unified German state. He also provoked hostilities with France in order to unify the German people behind Prussia, ultimately leading to the formation of the German Empire in 1871.