Nationalism comes to Germany

Unification of Germany

1

STALEMATE: ◦ Increased tension – Austria / Prussia

Nationalism – post Napoleon◦ Loyalty to national identity increases◦ Industrially German states begin to surpass

other Continental states Economic unity comes first

◦Zollverein, 1834 (German customs union) Economic agreements among states By 1853 ALL States but Austria & Bohemia belong

2

“Germany” pre BismarckREVIEW

3

Defeated by Napoleon – rises again◦ Rhineland gained 1815

1848 King Frederick Wilhelm IV declines emperorship of the “Germanies”◦ Frankfurt Assembly fails to unite

BUT in Prussia – constitution and bicameral legislature formed◦ Reichstag = Lower house of parliament elected by

universal male suffrage beginning 1848 BUT has very little real input

◦ By 1859 middle-class dominates the Reichstag BUT there is no ministerial responsibility

King Wilhelm I, 1861-1888◦ Wants army reforms – double and discipline, but…

needs money - Opposed by Reichstag in 1862◦ Calls Otto von Bismarck as new Chief Minister

1862-1866 Goal – defy Parliament! 4

Prussia pre BismarckREVIEW

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Otto Von Bismarck King William I of

Prussia

Bismarck, 1810 – 1898 (minister 1862-6)◦ Junker of Old Brandenburg - conservative◦ Motto: “One must always have two irons in

the fire.” Goal of Unity

◦ Initially: unify along northern (Protestant) lines with Prussia at the head

“Great questions…decided by blood & iron.”◦ Reorganize finances to fund army - $ from

other departments – defies Reichstag and raises taxes anyway

◦ Liberals in parliament oppose but DON’T ACT◦ NEVERTHELESS more liberals elected to

parliament 6

Otto von Bismarck: Hero/Villain??

“politics of reality” - Practice pragmatic politics (think Machiavelli)◦ Make any alliance that appears useful at the time◦ Disregard ethics and scruples◦ Use any practical means to achieve the end goal◦ Disregard ideology and belief in “natural”

enemies/allies – an ally is an ally Bismarck wages aggressive foreign policy

◦ Take attention away from problems at home◦ Germany – not a big player in imperialism, so

focus on weakening other Continental powers

7

Bismarck’s Realpolitik

Schleswig-Holstein (occupied by Germans BUT coveted by Denmark) ◦ Denmark attempts incorporation of

peninsula ◦ Austria encouraged to join Prussia in war

against Denmark◦ Denmark defeated:

Austria given authority over Holstein Prussia given authority over Schleswig

Next Step: get Austria out of German affairs --- How???? ◦ Goad them into war by exacerbating tension

on the peninsula => War with Austria8

Danish War - 1863

Bismarck’s “problem”◦ Wants to get rid of Austria but doesn’t want

to upset other nations Russia remains neutral b/c PR helped them out with

the Poles in 1863 France “promised” territory in Rhineland for

neutrality Italy aides PR for Venetia

7 short weeks: Battle of Sadowa Prussia had better transport (railroad) Prussia had better weapons (breech-loading needle

gun) Prussia had better leaders

Consequences ◦ Austria is out of German affairs!◦ Venetia ceded to Italy

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Austro-Prussian War 1866aka: German Civil War / 7 Weeks War

North German Confederation est’d. 1867◦ Prussia + 21 states◦ Austria & S. German Catholic states remain

independent King Wilhelm I = President Bismarck = Chancellor

◦ Bismarck responsible to President only Centralized government – but not working

with President and Chancellor ◦ Bundesrat (Senate – high ranking civil servants

appointed by state governments) ◦ Reichstag (House – elected via universal male

suffrage) ◦ Local issues handled by local leaders

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German Unification

Decide military and foreign policy

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Franco-Prussian Tension◦Conflict begins in Spain Revolution – Queen Isabella II overthrown Wilhelm’s cousin invited to be king

Prince Leopold von Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen France protests – upset of balance of

power Fr. Ambassador at Ems – asks Wilhelm to

prevent it – he caves to pressure Fr. demands formal apology, Wilhelm

refuses – sends “Ems dispatch” to Bismarck…

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Final Steps to Unified Germany

Bismarck manipulates story ◦ Publishes “abridged” Ems Dispatch◦ Did Wilhelm insult the French Ambassador

and thereby the French???? (see Primary Source)

Why?◦ War might force small German states to join

N. Confederation◦ Napoleon III

war might make him look better French worried of threats of united Italy / now

Germany uniting

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Bismarck starts a war

France declares war – July 15,1870

Short conflict◦2 September 1870 Battle of Sedan Entire French army and Napoleon III

captured!!◦No help from other countries England – vs. b/c moved on Mexico Italians – see chance to seize Rome Russia – see chance to put ships in

Black Sea14

Franco-Prussian War

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Results:◦January 18, 1871 Versailles – Hall of

Mirrors Wilhelm I = Kaiser (Emperor) of

German Empire! Southern German states join N.

German Confederation

◦Paris under siege 4 months Alsace and Lorraine given to Germany France forced to pay 5 billion francs Northern France occupied until 1873

when the money was paid off16

Es lebe Deutschland!

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The Decline of the 2nd French Empire and the Rise of the 3rd Republic

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Two Faces of the 2nd French Empire

Conservative Measures, prior to 1860

Liberal Measures, after 1860

Controlled the legislature

Censored the press Discouraged political

opposition Drew support from

army, land owners, French Catholic Church, peasants, & entrepreneurs

Free-trade agreement w/ GB

Allowed open debate in legislature

Lessened censorship Allowed labor unions Allowed moderates to

for a ministry Agreed to ministerial

responsibility

19WHY did Napoleon III agree to these changes??

Nap III abdicates and dies 1873 in England Monarchists est. Nat. Assembly under Adolph

Thiers – Treaty of Frankfurt signed May 23, 1871

Parisians elect Paris Commune March 1871 – to govern Paris separately from France

May 21 – violence erupts, 20,000 Communards killed by Nat. Guard

Contemporary Marxists saw this as true class conflict – was this the case??

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Paris Commune, 1871

How is it that France did not remain a monarchy after the Paris Commune was put down?

What political changes did MacMahon usher in as President and why did he resign?

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3rd French Republic

A new Republic President serves 7 year term Senate (indirectly elected) & Chamber of Deputies

(universal male suffrage) moderate Republican Leaders: Gambetta and Ferry – (to

1882) Reform --- labor unions / colonial empire Mounting anti-Catholicism

◦ Created state-sponsored schools – secular republican – replacing Catholic schools (by 1904 closed all 17,000)

3 Crises1. Gen. Boulanger (1887-9) failed coup vs. republic

– flees before coup takes place2. Panama Canal (1892) promoters bribe gov’t –

scandal!3. Dreyfus Affair (1894-1906)

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3rd French Republic (1875-1940)

Dreyfus Affair: Alfred Dreyfus, Jewish capt. in army - accused of spying for Germany

From Alsace – family left when Prussia took the territory Convicted of treason and sent to Devil’s Island Prison

The French public questioned his conviction Why? Evidence gathered shows innocent - points to Major

Esterhazy --- but army won’t reopen the case Family asks help of Emile Zola’s - open letter - J’accuse

Dreyfus in prison until 1898 Country split!!! Church / Army vs. Jews / Radicals called back to France for retrial – 1899 pardoned 1906 exonerated

Results Republicans / Socialists – block anti-republicans Promote Anti-clericalism (because were vs. Dreyfus) Republic survives --- up to 1914

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Crisis in French 3rd Republic