obstacles to german unification mass indifference
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Peasant majority
Peasants made up the largest group of people in
all the German states.
They were divided across rural areas, and also
urban areas which had seen huge population
increases.
Peasant divide
The urban/rural divide had an impact on peasant attitudes.
Urban peasants – affected by
industrialisation – were more likely to take
part in protests.
Social change
Many peasants (urban and rural) lived extremely
poor lives.
Although many became involved in protests they were more interested in
social change than political reform.
Main obstacle? Yes
As the peasants were in the majority, their support
was essential to force state leaders to listen; indifference hurt this.
Peasants were also divided from the middle classes who were often
their employers.
Main obstacle? Yes
Most peasants also had a limited education.
As such this made it harder for them to be
aware of and engage in political discussions of the
time.
Main obstacle? No
German peasants did not actively oppose
nationalism, they simply saw social change as more
important.
Also many peasants were also nationalists and
supported German unity.