Otto Von Bismarck (Prussian Aristocratic landowner (Junker) and Chancelor of Prussia then later Germany under Whilhelm I) 5 Step Plan to achieve unification  

1. Secure Russian neutrality (achieved by assisting in the Polish affair of 1863)

2. With Austria as a ally, he made war with Denmark in 1864, in order to gain the Schleswig-Holstein territory over which he, Bismarck, would later go to war with Austria

3. He needed to secure Napoleon III's neutrality against Austria by deceiving him into thinking that he would receive compensations for France when the war was over.

4. Next he defeated Austria in 1866, but took no territory, thereby insuring Austria's friendship in the coming war with France

5. Lastly, engineer the Hohenzollern candidacy of Leopold for King of Spain, thus provoking France to declare war in 1870.  (Publication of Ems dispatch)