Who won the ACW? What were the aftereffects?
The ACW started when the anti-slavery radical Charles Sumner was nominated for President by the Republican Party won the elections, thanks for the divisions between the Whigs in the South, and the collapse of the Democratic Party, Sumner became President with John Freemont as VPOTUS. The rise of anti-slavery radicals caused the revolt of the Southern states (All Historicals plus Kentucky), Sumner attempted no compromise and instead sent the army into the south. The war raged for longer and caused much more destruction to the south, Mexico invaded the collapsing Confederacy in January 1866, capturing the rest of New Mexico and parts of South Texas. The Confederacy surrendered later that year, New Mexico, Trans-Pecos, and San Antonio were given to Mexico and the rest was reincorporated in the Union. Freemont wasn't seen as a savior of the Union like Lincoln IOTL, but his lack of attempts in compromise, ruthless and even incompetent decisions (for example, the Bonaventure incident that almost brought France into the war) made him be seen as a unstable and radical leader. His Vice-President (1864 campaign) Abraham Lincoln was seen as a moderate figure that could better lead the reconstruction.
Sumner suffered heavy opposition even inside his own party, the opposite of what was expected after the war. He was called as responsible for extending the war for political gain and as principal responsible for the brutal civil war. Under pressure and not wishing for an impeachment, Sumner renounced and Lincoln was sworn president. Lincoln led America into a much more moderate reconstruction, he was elected for another term in 1868 and signed the compromise of 1871 (similar to the 1877 one IOTL), felt as a betrayal for the blacks. Lincoln claimed it was "A Necessary sacrifice to unite the North and the South."
Did Austria or Prussia end up uniting Germany (and is Germany united at all)?
The North German Federation was much more united and centralized than the SGF, the south conflicted between Austria and Bavaria, and had to deal with several Czech protests and revolts. The only thing that united the several states and factions was Felix von Schwarzenberg, considered one of the best politicians of the 19th century. Sadly he would die in 1863, and as said by Chancellor Otto von Bismarck "Today, died the last human being that could stop the German Unification." Bismarck would start playing his cards, making promises to the enemies of Austria in both Munich and Prague. A Czech uprising started in 1866 with Prussian support, the Bavarians used the opportunity to send a series of outrageous demands (including change the capital to Munich) that were obviously refused, the SGF fell into civil war between its member states as Baden sided with Bavaria and Wirttemberg sided with Vienna. Using the opportunity, Bismarck argued that "for sake of European Stability and the greater good of the Germanic people, the North German Federation shall restore peace in our southern brother." Thanks for the military modernization, the Prussian General Staff, and the large population and industry, the North German Federation invaded the south in 1867. Thanks for previous agreements, the Czechs and Bavarians sided with Berlin and marched to Vienna. On the 18th of September of 1867, Franz Joseph I surrendered in Vienna, on the following day, Wilhelm I became Kaiser of Germany. The Czechs (except for the Sudetenland which continued part of Austria) would become an autonomous region of the Reich, Bavaria retained a high autonomy compared to other monarchs in Germany, and Austria continued to be ruled by the Habsburgs, but under vassalage of the German Kaiser and Franz Joseph would be demoted to the title of King.
Speaking of Germany, how big is Weiss Industries in 1900?
The Weiss Industries were founded in the North German East Rhineland by Prussian Junkers, they grew in political influence during the reign of Kaiser Heinrich I and became the main naval company of the Reich, they were one of the main responsibles for the modernization and expansion of the German Kaiserliche Marine.
