German Unification

Focus Question

• Was the unification of Italy more liberal or conservative? Why?

• What about Germany?

FACTORS PROMOTING UNITY

1. Common Nationality emerging2. Napoleon & Congress of Vienna3. Zollverein

Common Nationality• As opposed to Austria, who

was more ethnically diverse• Especially with the

emergence of Prussia as a great power, Germans rallied around the “Prussian spirit”

• Writers chronicled their version of “German-ness”

JOHANN FICHTE (1762-1814)• CLAIMED EXISTENCE

OF A “GERMAN SPIRIT”

• GERMANY MORE NOBLE & MUST LEAD CIVILIZED WORLD

GEORG HEGEL (1762-1831)

• PREDICTED UNIFICATION OF GERMANY• STATE NOT BOUND

TO RESPECT ANY INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

JAKOB & WILHELM GRIMM • LINGUISTS TRAVELING

GERMANY RESEARCHING DIALECTS & FOLK TALES

• PROCLAIMED GERMAN LANGUAGE WAS PRE-EMINENT OVER OTHER LANGUAGES

Napoleon’s Influence

• Unified German peoples against him• Spread nationalist

ideas

Congress of Vienna (1815)

• German states reduced to 39 controlled by Austria (German Confederation) • Confederation was weak

and ineffective at stirring nationalist feelings

The “Three Germanies”

Zollverein (1819)• Encouraged free

trade among German states & maintained high tariffs against non-members

• Benefited German workers and manufacturers

FAILURE OF THE 1848 REVOLUTION

• German liberals led a series of revolts aimed at ending autocracy & unifying Germany

• Frankfurt Assembly (Parliament) convened to institute democratic rule; proclaimed German unification.

• Offered king of Prussia to be emperor of unified Germany but he REJECTED Wanted to be elected by princes HRE style

• King of Prussia refused offer• Conservatives retake power• End of Frankfurt assembly

FAILURE OF THE 1848 REVOLUTION

• A history of disunity• No natural boundaries• France and Austria

Obstacles to Unity

Otto von Bismarck

• Chief minister of Prussia – 1862

• Member of land owning aristocracy (Junkers)

• Loyalty to the King• Manipulator

(Machiavelli style)

Bismarck rejects liberalism

• The master of “Realpolitik”• Politics based on reality,

not idealism• AKA nations acting in

their own interests rather than trying to uphold ideals like altruism, morals, etc.

• Germany will be won by blood & Iron!

Kaiser William (Wilhelm??) I

• Hohenzollern King of Prussia (1861-1888)

• Became emperor of Germany (1871)

• Supporter of Bismarck

Helmuth von Moltke

• Prussian General & Chief of Staff

• Assured Bismarck’s success by building large, powerful army & achieving military success

STEPS IN GERMAN UNIFICATION (1862-1871)

STEP 1:CREATION OF PRUSSIAN MILITARY POWER:

• 1862-Bismarck requested the build up of German military

• Prussian legislature refused• Bismarck ignored law makers &

violated Prussian constitution by ruling as a dictator until 1867

• Bismarck & von Moltke create strong and powerful military

STEP 2:ELIMINATION OF AUSTRIAN INFLUENCE:

• Danish War (1864) – Bismarck brought about war with Denmark over control of Schleswig & Holstein

• With help from Austria, Denmark was defeated

• Prussia & Austria share influence of the 2 regions

• Austro-Prussian War (1866) – Bismarck starts war with Austria over control of conquered territories• von Moltke’s armies quickly defeat Austria• Prussia gains control of territories and Austria loses control of Germany

STEP 2:ELIMINATION OF AUSTRIAN INFLUENCE:

STEP 3:NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION (1867)

• Bismarck annexed several north German states

• Compelled the remaining ones to join in a Prussian-dominated North German Confederation

• Southern German states still remain under Prussian influence due to the Zollverein

• Franco-Prussian War (1867-1871) – Bismarck starts war with France to unify southern German states with Prussia

• EMS Telegram – Bismarck changed a message to be insulting to France, starts war

• von Moltke’s armies defeated France

STEP 3:NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION (1867)

With the Treaty of Frankfurt…• FRANCE CEDED TO GERMANY THE

PROVINCES OF ALSACE & LORRAINE • PAY GERMANY HUGE WAR INDEMNITY• CONSENTED TO GERMAN MILITARY

OCCUPATION UNTIL INDEMNITY WAS PAID• PLANTED SEEDS FOR WORLD WAR I

STEP 3:NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION (1867)

• During Franco-Prussian War, southern German states unified with Prussia

• 1871- at Palace of Versailles, Bismarck proclaimed William I as Emperor of German Empire

• Second Reich

STEP 4:ESTABLISHMENT OF GERMAN EMPIRE (1871)

Formation of the German Reich 1870

CATILINE = “conspirator”

The United German Empire - 1871

Assignment List

• Liberalism/Conservatism/Nationalism readings/questions

• Greek Independence DBQ outline• Dickens Readings Questions

• 1848 Revolutions Chart, Mazzini SOAPPS on back• France’s 2nd Empire & Hausmann’s Paris Reading

Questions• Focus Questions from Chapter 21-22