The Unification of Germany

Transforming the

Balance of power

Zollverein

Zollverein – tariff free zone 1818 – Prussia abolished internal tariff barriers

to allow for the freer movement of goods Lowered administrative costs of government Improved movement of goods within the state Lowered import tariffs on some foreign products

Good for farmersDid not protect manufacturers

Austria removed tariff barriers within the western half of the empire but not the whole empire

1819 – 1828 – Prussia moved to include the enclave states within the Prussian state

Prussia will not actively include Austria 1820 – South German States began to create their own customs

union Bavaria & Wurttemberg – did not involve Prussia

1831 – Prussian trade treaty with Holland to open the Lower Rhine River to Prussian trade

Hesse-Cassel joined Prussian trade union – connected east and west Prussia

1833 – Prussia joined with the Southern German Customs Union 1834 – the German Customs Union Prussian trade increased dramatically

IB Objective:

European diplomacy and the changing balance of power after 1870

What is a nation state?

Geographic boundary – territory Sense of common culture and social lifeCommon history Sense of community

Two phases of the rise of the Nation-State

National integration – expansion and admission of new territory – war, annexation, plebiscite

Institution building – creation of new govt. for new nation state

Issues prior to unification

Conservatism – desire to keep society and political power structure the same – Junkers (landed aristocracy) dominant class in Prussian society and military

Liberalism – desire to increase the political rights of the common citizen

Industrialization – German states became leading industrial power in Europe – economic ties fostered a degree of unity among the German states – rise of the middle class and industrial owners

Socialism – desire to increase the rights, power, and wealth of the working person

The German Confederation – loose union of independent German states

Nationalism – loyalty to a common nation – unification of Italy provided example

Prussia vs. Austria – who will lead the movement in Germany and become the dominant state

Key Players

William IKing of PrussiaHohenzollern family

Otto von Bismarck – “the Iron Chancellor”

Prime Minister of Prussia (1862)

Solve military budget issue

Created unified Germany based on conservatism

Followed Realpolitik

Military issue

Prussian king and conservatives wanted to increase size of military and modernize weapons

Liberals in parliament refused to support military increase and taxation increase

Solution to military budget

Bismarck ruled without Parliament’s consent for four years

Government collected taxes without Parliament’s consent – people paid anyway (duty to state)

Army reorganized, retrained and reequipped with tax money – military will play leading role in unification

Restricted freedom of press, speech on political issues, did not confirm the election of progressive mayors to Prussian cities – political war against liberalism

Prussia will grow “by Blood and Iron” and not liberalism.

Creation of Prussian Dominance

Prussia and Russia 1863 – Polish revolt against Russia Bismarck (Prussia) sided with Russia Prussia mobilized troops on Eastern

borderAustria could not side with Russia

because of larger Polish population

Prussia vs. Denmark (1864)Schleswig and Holstein – two duchies

ruled by Denmark but not official part of kingdom – large German populations

1863 – Denmark attempts to annex Schleswig

Bismarck issued ultimatum to Denmark to not annex Schleswig – Denmark rejected

Prussia and Austria declare war

Prussia and Austria defeated Denmark Treaty of Vienna (1864) – ended war

Prussia – Schleswig and port city of KielAustria – Holstein

Created tension between Austria and Prussia – Bismarck viewed war as inevitable

The Isolation of AustriaDeal with France (Napoleon III) – France

receive territory in Rhineland if neutral in Austria-Prussia war

Alliance with Italy – Italy attacks Austria in Austria-Prussia war – Italy receives Venetia

Austro-Prussian War (1866) – the Seven Weeks War

Prussia sent troops into Holstein and leaves the German Confederation

Austria and German Confederation send troops to oppose Prussia

Prussia won with assistance of Italy

Treaty of Prague (1866) – ended warGerman Confederation dissolvedPrussia annexed Schleswig and Holstein,

Hanover, Frankfurt North German Confederation created –

controlled by Prussia – Austria left outParliament – two houses – lower house elected

by universal male suffrage William I – presidentBismarck – chancellor

Economic Alliance with Southern German states (not Austria) – created free trade and extension of railroadsSouthern German states not formally organized

Southern German states militarily aligned with the North German Confederation

Prussian parliament supported Bismarck and military budgets after defeat of Austria

By passing universal male suffrage – socialists support Bismarck

Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)

France vs. PrussiaSpain invited Hohenzollern family member

(Leopold of Hohenzollern) to rule – Prussia supported invitation

France opposed – fear of being politically surrounded – declared war on Prussia

France = no alliesPrussia defeated France

Proclamation of German Empire – “The Second Reich”Discuss structure of govt.

France – the Palace of Versailles – Hall of Mirrors

William I became Emperor William I of Germany – emperor = hereditary

German princes proclaim allegiance to William I and “give” their territory to the new German empire

Treaty of Frankfurt (1871)Germany annexed French provinces of

Alsace and Lorraine Iron Ore CoalTextile industries

France pay Prussia $5 billion francs

Germany under Bismarck

Industrial leader in manufactured goods outproducing France and England – challenged England’s role in the global economy

Leader in iron, steel and coal outputInstituted govt. insurance program for

workers – sickness, accident, incapacity in old age.

Implemented protective economic tariffs (1879)Protected agriculture (Junkers) from Russian

and US wheat imports Supported by industrialists wanting to protect

German industrial market from foreign competition

Govt increased military expenditures – helped industrialists

Question of Catholicism

Prussia and Northern German states = protestant

Southern German states = Catholic Loyalty of Catholic citizens came into

question – will they support Germany or the Catholic church

Kulturkampf “the Battle for Modern Civilization”Effort to reduce the influence of the Catholic

Church esp. in Southern GermanyLaws restricted Catholic worship and Catholic education Catholic bishops and clergy were arrested or expelled

from Germany Laws restricting Catholic publications

Catholics created the Center Party to represent Catholic political interests Developed into strong oppositional party in the Reichstag

Decided to stop Kulturkampf campaign Needed support of Centre party against

the socialist movement of the working class

German Social Democratic Party

Founded in 1875 Workers party

Represented threat to new government – demanded social change

1878-1890 - Bismarck passed anti-socialist laws – no socialist meetings or newspapers

Bismarck passed social legislation that supported the workers and the old

Effects of Unified Germany:

Germany = Great Power Politically – influence among Eur. countriesEconomically – industrial leader Militarily – used military to expand

Threat to England, France, Austria, Russia – other Great Powers

Upsets traditional balance of power Countries have to account for Germany

Close:

Provide examples of both domestic and foreign policy that reflect Bismarck’s philosophy of Realpolitik.

Be able to explain how or why the examples reflect Realpolitik.

Explain how Bismarck’s policies reflect or support the following philosophies:ConservatismLiberalismSocialism Industrialism Nationalism

Removal of Bismarck

William I died in 1888Frederick III died after three monthsWilliam II became Kaiser of Germany 1890 – Bismarck ordered to resign

because of disputes over foreign and social policy

Germany adopts a “new course” (p.598)