Final answer:
The Prussian policy of merit-based promotions improved administrative efficiency and military strength, attributes intensified by Otto von Bismarck's Realpolitik. Bismarck's practical approach and focus on military spending led to the unification of Germany and the prominence of Prussia.
Step-by-step explanation:
The policies of Friedrich Wilhelm and the implementation of merit-based promotions significantly influenced the Prussian state by bolstering administrative efficiency and focusing on military strength. These policies stemmed from the Hohenzollerns' dedication to state revenues and uncompromising discipline within the army, which propelled Prussia into a European great power by the mid-eighteenth century. Otto von Bismarck, appointed chancellor by King Wilhelm I, exemplified these principles through the practice of Realpolitik. Bismarck utilized a practical approach to politics and national interest, manipulating nationalist sentiments to support Prussian wars and expansion. His strategy culminated in the unification of Germany, marked by militarism and authoritarianism, and the establishment of Prussia as a preeminent European power, emphasizing military spending and state-building over moral or ideological considerations.