German Unification

1. German Unification Impact on Europe

2. Germany prior to Confederation

3. Prior to Confederation • In the early 1800s Prussia was the only German state of any size • In fact Prussia was roughly equal to the Austrian empire in terms of size, population, and wealth • Austria was opposed to German confederation as a portion of its population was German

4. Prior to Confederation Austria Weakened Prussia Strengthened Prussia was ahead of Austria in the industrial revolution Prussia had set up a trade alliance with other German states making trade easier and more profitable • Austria lost a key ally in Russia when they refused to help Russia fight England and France during the Crimean War • Austria was defeated by the French and northern Italian states in the unification of Italy and therefore lost territory and prestige

5. 1848 Revolts • Like other places in Europe Germany experienced several riots demanding changes • Unlikely elsewhere in Europe, Prussian King Fredrick William IV sympathized with the rioters • King William promised the people a constitution and an elected assembly

6. Otto von Bismarck • First came to prominence when the new King Wilhelm wanted to expand his army • Bismarck convinced parliament making a famous speech called “Blood and Iron”

7. Otto von Bismarck • When Bismarck became Chancellor he had several goals: • unify the north German states under Prussian control • weaken Prussia's main rival, Austria, by removing it from the Bund • make Berlin the centre of German affairs - not Vienna • strengthen the position of the King of Prussia, William I, to counter the demands for reform from the Liberals in the Prussian parliament (the Reichstag).

8. Dealing with Austria • Bismarck correctly saw Austria as a stumbling block and set out to deal with them • First Bismarck allied with the Austrians and attacked Denmark in 1864 over two small German nations (Schleswig and Holstein) • Allied with Russia in large part by refusing to help Poland fight Russia • Allied with France in return for supporting France against Belgium • Allied with Italy if Prussia wasn’t the aggressor

9. Seven Weeks War • Bismarck ensured that the treaty regarding Schleswig and Holstein was so complicated that there would be arguments • Eventually Austria became so frustrated that they declared war on Prussia

10. Seven Weeks War • Several German states sided with Austria but proved to be ineffective • France sided with Austria but came late and were ineffective • Austria was hampered by having to send troops to fight the Italians • The Prussian needle gun gave Prussia a technological advantage • Austria was quickly and decisively defeated

11. Consequences • Austria was forced to pay compensation to Prussia but didn’t lose land • Austria agreed to stay out of German affairs • A Northern German confederation was established • A Southern German confederation was established as a result of the Northern confederation Video Clip

12. Weakening the French • After the Seven Weeks war France viewed Prussia with alarm • Mean while Prussia looked for ways undermine France’s power and influence • Bismarck attempted to weaken France by: • Making a deal with Russia, to keep them out of a war • Keeping ties with Italy to ensure they remained neutral • Bismarck also gambled that Britain would not intervene on behalf of France

13. Spain Provides an Excuse • Spain offered its vacant crown to a relative of Prussia’s King • France feared Prussia gaining more influence and power • France put pressure on Prussia’s King Wilhelm I to get his relative to refuse the crown • Bismarck published a heavily edited version of a French telegram called the Ems Telegram

14. Franco – Prussian War • In the lead up to war the Southern Confederation of Germany joined the Northern Confederation to fight France • France had hoped to ally with the Southern Confederation in a war against Prussia and now found itself without any allies against an united Germany

15. Franco - Prussian War • Prussia was able to much more quickly mobilize its forces than France • This combined with Prussia extensive rail system allowed Prussia to quickly and easily concentrate its forces while French troops were still marching to the battle

16. Franco – Prussian War • France held a technological edge in rifles • Prussia held the advantage in mobility and tactics • The war went badly for France in 6 weeks with France’s leader Napoleon III was captured along with most of the French army

17. Franco – Prussian War • The humiliation the French suffered resulted in Napoleon’s opponents over throwing him and declaring the Third French Republic • The republic refused to surrender to the surprise of the Prussians • Prussia put Paris under siege and this lasted until France’s surrender in mid January 1871

18. Consequences • France was forced to give up most of its traditional German speaking territory, most significantly Alsace and parts or Lorraine • Germany would also administer Paris and parts of Northern France until such time as France paid Germany the war indemnity (200 million pounds) • Germany became officially unified with Wilhelm I as emperor (Kaiser) • Bismarck was named Chancellor and was named prince and given an estate

19. The End Now bring on 50 years of war