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THE UNIFICATION OF GERMANY 1815- 1871 UNIT 1

THE UNIFICATION OF GERMANY 1815- 1871 UNIT 1. OVERVIEW OF CONTENT. The German Confederation, 1815-48: i. Why was Unification unlikely in 1815? ii. What were the forces of change 1815-48? iii. ‘Peaceful Dualism’ Austrian political and Prussian economic control.

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THE UNIFICATION OF GERMANY 1815- 1871 UNIT 1

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  1. THE UNIFICATION OF GERMANY 1815- 1871UNIT 1

  2. OVERVIEW OF CONTENT • The German Confederation, 1815-48: • i. Why was Unification unlikely in 1815? • ii. What were the forces of change 1815-48? • iii. ‘Peaceful Dualism’ Austrian political and Prussian economic control. • Revolutions in Germany 1848-49: • i. The Frankfurt Parliament. • ii. The Prussian Revolution. • The Rise of Prussia, 1850-62: • i. Economic and Political developments. • 4. Diplomacy and War, 1862-71: • i. Bismarck, Master Planner or Opportunist. • ii. The Polish Revolt 1863. • iii. War with Denmark 1864. • iv. Austro-Prussian War, the Seven Weeks War 1866. • v. The Franco-Prussian War 1870-71.

  3. THE GERMAN CONFEDERATION1815-1848. • Why was German Unification unlikely in 1815? • The German Confederation was set up at the Congress of Vienna (1815) with 39 separate states all being controlled by separate rulers. • The Diet (Parliament) of the Confederation included representatives from each state chosen by the individual princes. • It had little power as there was unanimous verdicts and no army or civil service.

  4. THE GERMAN CONFEDERATION1815-1848. • Why was German Unification unlikely in 1815? • ‘Peaceful Dualism’ meant that Austria and Prussia dominated and shared the control of Germany. • The southern catholic states tended to look towards Austria for leadership and the northern, protestant states to Prussia.

  5. THE GERMAN CONFEDERATION1815-1848. • Why was German Unification unlikely in 1815? • The was cultural, religious and national disunity. Some non-Germans were part of the Confederation; some Confederation states were ruled by non-Germans and parts of the Habsburg Empire was outside of the Confederation. • The Junkers (aristocratic landowners) dominated society. There was little industry or large towns.

  6. iii. ‘Peaceful Dualism’ Austrian political and Prussian economic control. Austria and PrussiaGerman States 1815

  7. THE GERMAN CONFEDERATION1815-1848. • ii. What were the forces for Change between 1815 and 1848? • The Zollverein: • 18 states joined the PCU Prussian Customs Union to form the Zollverein in 1834. By 1848 only Austria, Hanover, Oldenburg, Mecklenburg and the Hanseatic towns were NOT in the Zollverein.

  8. THE GERMAN CONFEDERATION1815-1848. • ii. What were the forces for Change between 1815 and 1848? • The Growth of German Nationalism: • Students and educated Middle Classes demonstrated in Wartburg (1817) and Hambach (1832)

  9. THE GERMAN CONFEDERATION1815-1848. ii. What were the forces for Change between 1815 and 1848? The Growth of Liberalism: Students and the educated Middle Classes campaigned for a Constitution and liberal measures e.g. in Baden in the 1840s. Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the People" In France, which was the original European home of the liberal revolutionary

  10. 2. REVOLUTIONS IN GERMANY IN 1848-9. • WHAT WERE THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REVOLUTIONS? • THE FRANKFURT PARLIAMENT: • The Frankfurt Parliament was a liberal assembly of 596 men from all states given the task of drawing up a Constitution for a United Germany. Germania, the personification of Germany. She holds the Revolutionary Flag used by the Frankfurt Parliament

  11. 2. REVOLUTIONS IN GERMANY IN 1848-9. • WHAT WERE THE MAIN DEVELOPMENTS IN THE REVOLUTIONS? • However, it FAILED because: • it became a ‘talking shop’ without real action; there were too many different representatives who called for different things • e.g. ‘Kleindeutschland’ (a small Germany without Austria) • ‘Grossdeutschland’ (a larger Germany to include Austria); Propaganda de la Kleindeutschland, 1849.

  12. 2. REVOLUTIONS IN GERMANY IN 1848-9. • WHAT WAS THE IMPACT OF THE REVOLUTION ON WHO CONTROLLED THE CONFEDERATION? • However, Prussia confirmed its economic control after Austria attempted to set up a rival Customs Union to the Zollverein called the Zollunion. • Its failure meant: • The old Confederation Diet and proposed a ‘Grossdeutschland’ under the leadership of Austria. • PRUSSIA KEPT ECONOMIC CONTROL VS AUSTRIA KEPT POLITICAL CONTROL.

  13. 3. THE RISE OF PRUSSIA, 1850-1862. • WHAT WERE THE MAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN PRUSSIA 1850-62? • THE ZOLLVEREIN • Prussia had an ‘Industrial Revolution’ due to an abundance of raw materials in the Saar, Ruhr and in Silesia.

  14. 3. THE RISE OF PRUSSIA, 1850-1862. • WHAT WERE THE MAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN PRUSSIA 1850-62? • The Railways developed massively: 1845: 3,280 km to 1860: 11,633 km. This helped with trade to other countries and would later help mobilise the Prussian Army.

  15. 3. THE RISE OF PRUSSIA, 1850-1862. • WHAT WERE THE MAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS IN PRUSSIA 1850-62? • Entrepreneurs and Iron and Steel Magnates like Alfred Krupp and his Needle gun would assist economic developments which would later help the army. • Prussia developed an extensive Banking System.

  16. 3. THE RISE OF PRUSSIA, 1850-1862. • WHAT WERE THE MAIN POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN PRUSSIA 1850-1862? • Austria weakened • Austria had lost key allies and was losing influence in Europe. • Austria had refused to help Russia in its war against France and Britain (the Crimean War, 1854-56) and lost a major ally as a result.

  17. 3. THE RISE OF PRUSSIA, 1850-1862. • WHAT WERE THE MAIN POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN PRUSSIA 1850-1862? • 1860-62 the new Minister for War General Von Roon tried to pass an ‘Army Bill’ to increase conscription time from 2-3 years; doubling the size of the army. • 1860-62 Parliament repeatedly refused to pass the Bill. • June 1861 Radical liberals set up the ‘Progressive Party’ which aimed to have a people’s army controlled by a parliament rather than an army controlled by the King. • This became a major CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS. As a result von Roon persuaded William I to appoint Bismarck as Minister President to sort the problem out and to get the Army Bill passed.

  18. 4. DIPLOMACY AND WAR, 1862-71. BISMARCK • Bismarck was appointed Minister President in 1862. He quickly solves the Constitutional crisis by overriding Parliament.

  19. THE POLISH REVOLT 1863. 4. DIPLOMACY AND WAR, 1862-71. • CAUSES: • Poland had been divided between Russia, Austria and Poland in the 18th Century. • Poles in Russia revolted in 1863 because they wanted independence from the absolutist rule of the Tsar.

  20. THE POLISH REVOLT 1863. 4. DIPLOMACY AND WAR, 1862-71. • EVENTS: • Bismarck offered assistance against the Russian Poles but was refused. At the ‘Alvensleben Convention’ Bismarck agrees to send any Polish rebels back to Russia. • Austria and France condemn this action and Prussian Liberals call for his dismissal. As a result Bismarck is forced to deny the agreement existed. • CONSEQUENCES: • Russia was angered by Bismarck’s denials. • However, she was more angry at Austria after the Crimean War. • Therefore Russia was likely to remain neutral if a war broke out between Austria and Prussia.

  21. 4. DIPLOMACY AND WAR, 1862-71. WAR WITH DENMARK 1864. • CAUSES: • King Frederick VII of Denmark who ruled North German states of Schleswig and Holstein died leaving no heir. It led to a succession dispute between the German Prince and the Danish. • EVENTS: • Prussia supported the German Prince and Austria, decided to join with Prussia to invade Schleswig and Holstein. • Prussia and Austria defeated the Danes quickly. At the Treaty of Vienna in October 1864 Prussia and Austria agreed to jointly control both territories

  22. 4. DIPLOMACY AND WAR, 1862-71. WAR WITH DENMARK 1864. • The Convention of Bad-Gastein decided that Prussia would govern Schleswig and Austria would govern Holstein. • CONSEQUENCES: • This situation now meant that relations between Prussia and Austria began to deteriorate rapidly. • It ultimately led to the outbreak of the Seven Weeks War between them. Schleswig-Holstein 1864 - 65 and the Seven Weeks War German states annexed by Prussia 1866

  23. 4. DIPLOMACY AND WAR, 1862-71. THE SEVEN WEEKS WAR BETWEEN AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA JUNE-JULY 1866. • CAUSES: • Tensions between the two states grew over Schleswig and Holstein. • Prussia made a secret alliance with Italy in April 1866 whereby Prussia promised to declare war on Austria within 3 months and hand Venetia over to Italy in the event of victory.

  24. THE SEVEN WEEKS WAR BETWEEN AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA JUNE-JULY 1866. 4. DIPLOMACY AND WAR, 1862-71. • EVENTS: • Bismarck meets Napoleon III at Biarritz in October 1865 to try to gain French neutrality in the event of an Austro-Prussian War. • Napoleon agrees to gain Venetia which she would then hand to Italy. • Bismarck puts forward plans to reform the German Constitution which would give Prussia increasing control. The Austrians obviously oppose it and in anticipation of further trouble, in defence, they mobilise their armies in April 1866. Prussia is now given the excuse they needed and invades Holstein.

  25. THE SEVEN WEEKS WAR BETWEEN AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA JUNE-JULY 1866. 4. DIPLOMACY AND WAR, 1862-71. • EVENTS: • With the help of the Italians Prussia decisively defeat the Austrians on 3rd July 1866. • William I, von Roon and other leading Generals like von Moltkewanted to march onto Vienna and bring Austria under Prussian control. • Bismarck advised against this and advises that Prussia should end the War. (He was worried that France and Russia might get involved to stop them). • Bismarck organises for the Prussians and the Austrians to meet at Prague in August 1866.

  26. THE SEVEN WEEKS WAR BETWEEN AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA JUNE-JULY 1866. 4. DIPLOMACY AND WAR, 1862-71. • CONSEQUENCES: • The Treaty of Prague in August 1866 was incredibly lenient on Austria. • The North German Confederation is set up and Germany is now divided into: • The North German Confederation (led by Prussia) and • Austria and 4 independent South German States which formed themselves into a union (Bavaria, Wurrtenberg, Baden and Hesse-Darmctadt) also Austria lost Venetia to the Italians (through France)

  27. THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR 1870-1871. 4. DIPLOMACY AND WAR, 1862-71. • CAUSES: • The Hohenzollern Candidature Crisis: In 1868 revolutionaries drove the Queen of Spain out of the country leaving a Spanish succession crisis. In February 1870 the Spanish Parliament offers the throne to Leopold of Hohenzollern, who was related to the Prussian Royal family. Prussia had a choice: to accept the throne would give them Spain as an Ally but it would worry the French. Leopold of Hohenzollern

  28. THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR 1870-1871. 4. DIPLOMACY AND WAR, 1862-71. • CAUSES: • The Ems Telegram: On the 13th July 1870 the French Ambassador Count Benedetti met William I at the German town of Ems. William accepted the withdrawal of Leopold, but refused to accept the further French demand that Leopold withdraws permanently. • William sends Bismarck a telegram describing his talks with Benedetti and gives Bismarck permission to release it to the press. • Bismarck releases his own version of the telegram which angers the French so much that they declare war on Prussia on the 19th July 1870.

  29. THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR 1870-1871. 4. DIPLOMACY AND WAR, 1862-71. • EVENTS: • On the 2nd September 1870 the Prussians defeat the French. • The Prussians kept advancing until they reached Paris and on the 18th January they humiliated the French by declaring a fully united German Empire led by King William I at Versailles. • CONSEQUENCES: • A united German Empire with William I as the Emperor was set up on the 18th January 1871. • France loses Alsace-Lorraine • France paysGermany 5,000,000,000

  30. Unification achieved German Empire 1871

  31. BISMARCK’S ROLE IN GERMAN UNIFICATION • Key questions: • Did Bismarck have a ‘Master Plan’ for Unification? • What other factors were involved in the Unification process? (Factors outside of Bismarck’s control that he used as an opportunity). • To what extent were the actions of others responsible for unification? E.g. Napoleon III

  32. BISMARCK’S ROLE IN GERMAN UNIFICATION MASTER PLAN? Bismarck later declared that he had carefully planned unification of Germany in 5 clear steps from 1862. He said that he had planned: 1. To Obtain Russian Neutrality 2. To trick Austria into declaring War 3. To ensure French Neutrality 4. To Treat Austria Leniently after Defeat. 5. To Trick France into Declaring War.

  33. BISMARCK’S ROLE IN GERMAN UNIFICATION • MASTER PLAN? • EVIDENCE: • He said he obtained Russian neutrality through the ‘Alvensleben Convention’ of 1863. • He said he tricked Austria into War with Prussia by setting up the argument over Schleswig and Holstein. • He ensured French neutrality for the Austro-Prussian War by making an agreement with Napoleon at Biarritz in October 1865.

  34. BISMARCK’S ROLE IN GERMAN UNIFICATION • MASTER PLAN? EVIDENCE CONTINUED: • He ensured Austrian neutrality in the futureFranco-Prussian War by treating the Austrians leniently at the Treaty of Prague in August 1866. He did persuade William and von Roon NOT to march onto Vienna. He did ensure that most states were united in the North German Confederation in the Treaty of Prague. • He manipulated France into declaring War on Prussia Ems Telegram. • WHO SUPPORTS THE MASTER PLAN VIEW? • Bismarck himself! Early German Historians.

  35. BISMARCK’S ROLE IN GERMAN UNIFICATION OPPORTUNISM? Bismarck had a favourable ‘deck of cards’ handed to him in 1862. He inherited: a favourable European diplomatic situation; a formidable economy, a powerful army and a liberal education system. However, many historians believe that after 1862 there were circumstances outside of Bismarck’s control that he used to benefit Prussia and therefore they believe he was more of an Opportunist.

  36. BISMARCK’S ROLE IN GERMAN UNIFICATION • EVIDENCE: • Actions of the Poles: How could Bismarck have known in advance that the poles would rebel? It is more likely he offered Russia support because he feared revolts in Prussian Poland. The fact he nearly lost his job as a result of Liberals and Britain and France condemning his agreement with Russia suggests his actions were NOT planned.

  37. BISMARCK’S ROLE IN GERMAN UNIFICATION • OPPORTUNISM? EVIDENCE CONTINUED: • The Neutrality of Russia: Bismarck actually upset the Russian Tsar through denial of the Alvensleben Convention. • He was lucky that Austria had upset the Tsar more during the Crimean War. • He could not guarantee Russian neutrality as result.

  38. CONCLUSIONS: • Bismarck was a skilful politician who was most probably a Prussian Supremacist who wanted Prussian expansion at the expense of the Austrians. • It is most unlikely that he planned unification from the start and more likely that he used opportunities when they presented themselves to benefit Prussia, initially and later, for Germany. BISMARCK’S ROLE IN GERMAN UNIFICATION

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