Building a German Nation

Simona Giambrone

Travis High School

Steps toward Unity

Impact of Napoleon• annexed lands along the Rhine River for

France

• Dissolved HRE and reorganized German states into Rhine confederation

• Made many enlightenment changes, but not everybody appreciated that

• Napoleon loses….German Confederation created with Austria as head.

Prussian Leadership• 1830’s-Prussia created economic

union called the Zolverein

• purpose was to dismantle tariff barriers b/t German states

• 1848Frederick William IV was offered German throne but decided to reject it.

Otto von Bismarck

And German Unity

Bismark……….• Comes from Prussia’s

Junker class (conservative landowning nobles)became

• Became Chancellor in 1862• United Germany with in ten

years.

Bismarck’s Beliefs• Realpolitik realistic politics based

on the needs of the state.

• Power more important than principles

• Not a German nationalist but rather loyal to the ruling dynasty in Prussia

Bismarck’s Goal•Through unification he hoped to bring more power to the Hohenzollerns

Bismarck's Leadership

• Build up the Prussian army (but because the legislature would not allocate funds, be used money allocated for other things.

Leadership contd………..

• Led Prussia in three wars

• War with Denmark and Austria

• 1864 made alliance with Austria

• They seized provinces of Schleswig and Holstein from Denmark

• 1866 Bismarck invents a reason to go to war with Austria/wins/ and creates new German federation

• BUT does allow Austria to remain independent state

• “We had to avoid leaving behind any desire for revenge.”

• Franco-Prussian War in 1870 (Napoleon III is in power in France)

• Bismarck uses French menace under Napoleon to stir up nationalism

• Bismarck tricks the French into declaring war on Prussia

• Prussia along with other German states crush French who had to accept humiliated peace deal

The German Empire• 1871- William I of Prussia becomes Kaiser and

the empire becomes known as the Second Reich

• Drafted constitution

• Two house legislature: Bundersrat was upper house and Reichstag was lower house

• Bundersrat could veto Reichstag so real power was in the hands of the Chancellor and the nobles

Strengthening Germany

Germany becomes Industrial Giant

• Had resources

• Population explosion = many workers

• Promoted education

• Ensured economic development

The Iron Chancellor

Bismarck’s Foreign Policy Goals

• Keep France weak and isolated while building strong links with Austria and Russia

• Respected British naval power but did not wish to compete in that arena

Bismarck’s Domestic Goals

• Sought to erase local loyalties and crush all opposition to the imperial state (Germany)

• Target Catholics and Socialists to make sure this happened!

Bismarck vs. The Church

• Catholics were 1/3 of the population• Bismarck was Lutheran• Believed Catholics would be more loyal

to the Pope than to Germany itself• Launched the Kulturkampf or “battle for

civilization” forcing Catholic loyalty to the State

How?• Passed laws giving the state the right to

supervise Catholic education and approve of and appoint priests

• Passed laws closing some religious orders

• Expelled Jesuits from Prussia

• Made it mandatory for couples to be married by civil authority

Effects…………• Actions backfired

• Catholic Center party gained strength in the Reichstag

• Bismarck (the realist) realized his mistake and tried to “make nice” with the Church (Realpolitik)

Bismarck vs. Socialists

• Feared socialists would undermine the loyalty of German workers and turn them toward revolution

• Result was high standard of social reform in Germany = health insurance, retirement etc…….

Kaiser William II• Became Kaiser in 1888• Asks Bismarck to resign• Saw himself as a divine right ruler so

Bismarck is a personal threat• Continued social reforms to certain

groups• Spent huge amounts on the German

military

Nationalism Threatens

Old Empires

Nationalism unites Germany and Italy

But,

Splits Austria and Ottomans

Austria• Hapsburgs were oldest ruling

family in Europe

• Controlled Bohemia and Hungary

• Ruled parts of Romania, Poland , the Ukraine and Italy, but all wanted to be free of Hapsburg rule (nationalism)

`• 1867-Hungary works out a deal with

Austria called a Dual Monarchy

• This means the emperor of Austria still ruled as King of Hungary, but Austria and Hungary were separate states and could make their own laws

• Gives Hungary a sense of independence (nationalism)

Ottomans• Ruled huge empire

• Home to Serbs, Greeks, Bulgarians, and Romanians.

• 1800’s rebellions begin

• Serbians win freedom in 1817

• South of Greece freed itself in 1830’s

• Indicated weakness in Ottoman Empire so Russia, Austria-Hungary, Britain and France all took part in wars and changing alliances.

• Ottoman empire is drastically reduced in size and power

Russia: Reform and

Reaction

Russia no industrial giant!• Czars feared change might weaken

their control

• Rigid system of social classes blocked progress

• Wealthy nobles owned all farmland and cared little about industry

• Middle class too small to have much power

• Most Russians were serfs (prevented progress)

• 1861- Alexander II freed serfs but reforms were not enough for Russian people so he was killed in 1881.

Alexander III…• Persecuted all non-Russians

• Insisted on one language (Russian) and one church – the Russian Orthodox Church

• Jews were beaten and killed in attacks known as pogroms (many fled to stay alive)

Nicholas II…..• In the last part of Alexander III’s reign

and under his son Nicholas II, Russia enters the industrial age

• Factory owners treated workers unfairly

• Priests lead march to the palace of czar demanding reforms

• Soldiers killed hundreds of the protesters = Bloody Sunday

Bloody Sunday sparked

Revolution!

Causes of Russian Revolution..

• Low spirits after defeat in 1904 war with Japan

• Poverty and bad working conditions

• Corrupt government• Persecution of minority groups• “Bloody Sunday” killings

Results of Russian Revolution!

• “October Manifesto”-Czar Nicholas II announces reforms and new freedoms

• Nicholas Ii sets up the Duma which must approve all laws

• Nicholas II dissolves the first Duma when its leaders criticize the government

• Jewish persecution continues

• New voting laws limit powers of later Dumas

Real Changes…………

• Not much …………….give and take back policy to appease revolutionaries.