nationalism in 19 th century europe and the unification of germany
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Nationalism in 19 th Century Europe and the Unification of Germany. Prussia. After the Napoleonic war a series of reforms were enacted. Baron Stein introduced a series of reforms. Soldiers of all ranks could be officers. Property could be exchanged by classes. Serfdom was abolished. . - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
NATIONALISM IN 19TH CENTURY EUROPE AND THE UNIFICATION OF GERMANY
Prussia After the Napoleonic
war a series of reforms were enacted.
Baron Stein introduced a series of reforms. Soldiers of all ranks
could be officers. Property could be
exchanged by classes. Serfdom was
abolished.
Early German Nationalism The German states first felt a strong
sense of nationalism when they were occupied by Napoleon in the early 1800 hundreds.
During the Congress of Vienna the German states were not united, but Prussia was given land along the Rhine.
The Goal of the Congress of Vienna was “Balance of Power.” A united Germany would upset this delicate system.
Germany from 1815 – 1848 Nationalistic ideals were maintained and
expanded upon in the universities. The key idea was Volksgeist
At universities students formed clubs dedicated to German nationalism.
Soon these movements became increasingly radical In 1819 a student murdered a pro-Russian
German named “Kotzebue.” In response the 1819 Carlsbad Decree banned
all student clubs associated with nationalism.
Germany from 1815 - 1848 The creation of the tariff union, Zollverein
broke down trade barriers among all the German states.
German nationalists watched in the 1820s as nationalist movements sprung up throughout Europe and the world Greece Spain Latin America Italy
1848 Is a year when thirty years of nationalist
agitation exploded.
1848 In March of 1848 most of the political
institutions in Central Europe collapsed with incredible swiftness.
It began in the Austrian Empire when the Hungarian parliament declared independence.
Students rose in protest in Vienna and Metternich resigns.
On March 15th students in Berlin begin rioting for a constitution. Frederick William IV of Prussia grants it.
The Frankfurt Assembly The assembly met in May
1848 - May 1849 with the goal of united German state.
The goal was to make a constitutional, liberal German state.
The main obstacle was 39 individual German states.
Austria also opposed any unification.
Prussia is indifferent to German liberalism.
Frankfurt Assembly Ultimately the Assembly failed due to
competing interests. Prussia, Austria, and small German states
It highlighted the limits of Nationalism. William IV did not want to incorporate
Prussia into a democratic state. Tensions between reformers and
businessmen. Riots broke out in September of 1848 at
the inaction of the Assembly.
Consequences of Frankfurt’s failure
One key lesson was learned. If Germany was to unite and get Prussia on board it CANNOT have liberal ideals.
Many liberal statesmen leave their German state for America.
The idea of a united Germany remains.
Germany in the 1850s Industrial output rose six fold in the
following decades in both Prussia and the German states.
By 1870 Prussia and the German states output overtook France.
Prussia became concerned over its weakening influence in European politics as seen in the Crimean War (1853 – 1856).
In 1850 the Prussian constitution is introduced and Prussia has its first parliament.
Bismarck A Prussian rural
nobleman. He is a proud Prussian,
he viewed western Germany with suspicion.
He liked three things: duty, social order, and fear of god.
He began considering a untied Germany, but only if it strengthened Prussia.
Bismarck in the 1860s From 1862 – 1866 Bismarck crushed his
liberal opponents in Prussian parliament. He often circumvented parliament.
Bismarck began a campaign to build up the Prussian army.
Bismarck argued that Prussian needed to expand its borders for safety purposes. He declared: “Not by speeches and majority votes are the great questions of the day decided – that was the great error of 1848 and 1849 – but by blood and iron.”
RealPolitik Bismarck mastered this diplomatic tactic
Alliance are formed out of convenience, not ideology (anyone can be your friend).
Enemies can become friends and then become enemies again.
Diplomacy is a step by step affair, not a long term process.
It is very opportunistic.
1866 War with Austria Austria and Prussia go to war over
Prussian seizure of Schleswig and Holstein.
Bismarck isolates Austria. Russia remains neutral in exchange for
assistance in putting down polish rebels. Bismarck offers Italy Venetia. Italy joins
Prussia. France is unable to organize due to internal
weaknesses.
The North German Confederation
William IV is named the head monarch of this new union. The Prussian (conservative) constitution is extended to these regions. There are two chambers in the government.
The upper Senate represented the states (officials are appointed).
The Lower chamber (Reichstag) is elected by universal male suffrage.
The Franco-Prussian War of 1871
France under Louis Napoleon III is not happy with this new German state.
French officials begin reaching out to the southern German states.
In 1870 Spain offered Prince Leopold of the Hohenzollern house the Spanish crown. Leopold was the cousin of William IV. Leopold declined four times. French officials go to Germany and demand the
Hohenzollern house swears to never accept the Spanish crown. (Ems dispatch)
Franco-Prussian War German were outraged at Louis Napoleon II’s
demands. Napoleon decides to “punish” Germany and he
declares war on July 19th, 1870. Bismarck had made sure to once again isolate
his opponent Britain felt France had been wrong to go to war over
a trivial matter. Bismarck offered Italy the right to seize Rome. Bismarck told Russia to violate the peace treaty of
1856 and put ships in the black sea. Austria-Hungary was too afraid to engage in war.
The Course of the War September 2nd, 1870 France loses the
battle of Sedan (on the border). The bulk of the French army surrenders. Napoleon III was taken prisoner.
For the next four months Paris was surrounded and under siege. Inhabitants were starved and forced to eat
shoe leather.
Peace with France Germany forced an extremely harsh
peace treaty on France on May 10th, 1871. Demanded 5 billion gold francs in war
indemnities (unheard of). France had to secede Alsace and Lorraine. France had to accept the incorporation of the
South German states into Germany.
Germany Ascendant From 1871 – 1890 German foreign policy
was shaped by Bismarck. Bismarck would operate with the
Reichstag when he had majority support, and he would act alone when he did not.
Bismarck usually allied with the conservatives, but occasionally butted heads with them. Especially when he introduced social
insurance Beginning in 1878 Bismarck launched a
wave of anti-socialist laws.
German Foreign Policy 1870 -1890
Under Bismarck Germany made strong efforts to ally with all states, except France.
In 1879 Bismarck created the Triple Alliance with Italy (1882), and Austria-Hungary.
He also signed a “reassurance” treaty with Russia over the Balkans.
Bismarck set up the Berlin conference to seem like the arbitrator of peace.
Kaiser Wilhelm II Kaiser Wilhelm I passed away in 1888. Wilhelm II took the throne at the age of
29. He believes Bismarck is an “old fogy.” After months of quarrelling Wilhelm II
dismisses Bismarck in 1890. German foreign policy now becomes
more aggressive. Wilhelm wants more colonies. He wants the world’s largest army. He wants to assert his authority
Germany policy 1890 - 1914
Germany industries continued to grow at an accelerating rate.
The German military swelled in numbers as Wilhelm II introduced a mandatory three years of compulsory military service.
Wilhelm II breaks up his treaty with Russia. Russia responds by signing an alliance with France in 1894.
The German navy began an arms race with Britain in 1898
Kaiser Wilhelm begins “Sabor rattling.”