Imperialism also became a key source of power for European nations. Colonial landholdings by the British, French, Spanish, and Dutch strengthened those nations politically and economically. Power could be substantiated by nationalistic propaganda. After 1870, the balance of power in Europe changed to accommodate for the emergence of two newly unified nations: Germany and Italy. The strategic alliances forged between various nation-states in Europe and the corruption that ensued led to the First and Second World Wars. Those wars in turn altered the balance of power throughout the world, allowing the United States to emerge as a superpower. Thus, nation-states in power, which are headed by elite and powerful social groups, help determine the course of history. Power is influence over a specific geographic region and can possibly translate to power globally. 4. Known as the Iron Chancellor, Otto von Bismark helped unified Germany and effectively consolidated power in a formerly fragmented Confederacy. Bismark challenged the supremacy of France as the dominant political power on the continent, reestablished the Catholic Church as a political partner of the Prussian state, and...

Bismark basically turned his native Prussia into a dominant German power in Central Europe.
References

Donohue, L. (nd) "Congress of Vienna." Retrieved June 20, 2007 at http://www.cusd.chico.k12.ca.us/~bsilva/projects/congress/vienessy.html

Kishlansky, M., Geary, P., & O'Brien, P. (2007). Civilization in the West. 5th edition. Pearson-Longman. Retrieved June 20, 2007 at http://wps.ablongman.com/long_kishlansky_cw_5/0,6472,270050-,00.html

Kreis, S. (2000). "Origins of the French Revolution." The History Guide. Retrieved June 20, 2007 at http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/lecture11a.html

Otto von Bismark: The Iron Chancellor of germany." Retrieved June 20, 2007 at http://www.germanculture.com.ua/library/weekly/aa092000a.htm

Social Causes of the Revolution." Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. Retrieved June 20, 2007 at http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/chap1a.html

Vienna, Congress of." (2005). Thr Columbia Encyclopedia. 6th edition. Retrieved June 20, 2007 at http://www.bartleby.com/65/vi/Vienna-C.html