Why did Bismarck/Prussia single out Hanover and Electoral Hesse for liquidation in 1866?

[raharris1973]

Bismarck insisted on a lenient settlement for Austria and Saxony and indeed most of the German states that sided with Austria.

Why did he single out Hanover and Electoral Hesse for total liquidation and annexation into Prussia?

 

[Mikestone8]

Bismarck insisted on a lenient settlement for Austria and Saxony and indeed most of the German states that sided with Austria.

Why did he single out Hanover and Electoral Hesse for total liquidation and annexation into Prussia?

They made geographical sense, linking the Rhenish Provinces to the rest of Prussia.

And having denied King Wilhelm what the latter really wanted (Saxony and a slice of Bohemia/Moravia) he had to appease his ruler with a generous consolation prize.

 

[Tyr Anazasi]

They made geographical sense, linking the Rhenish Provinces to the rest of Prussia.

And having denied King Wilhelm what the latter really wanted (Saxony and a slice of Bohemia/Moravia) he had to appease his ruler with a generous consolation prize.

That.

 

[Droman]

Also, removing Hannover from the equation probably helped simplify decades of British entanglements into German politics.