German Unification Focus Question Was the unification of

German Unification

Focus Question • Was the unification of Italy more liberal or conservative? Why? • What about Germany?

FACTORS PROMOTING UNITY 1. Common Nationality emerging 2. Napoleon & Congress of Vienna 3. Zollverein

Common Nationality • As opposed to Austria, who was more ethnically diverse • Especially with the emergence of Prussia as a great power, Germans rallied around the “Prussian spirit” • Writers chronicled their version of “German-ness”

JOHANN FICHTE (1762 -1814) • CLAIMED EXISTENCE OF A “GERMAN SPIRIT” • GERMANY MORE NOBLE & MUST LEAD CIVILIZED WORLD

GEORG HEGEL (1762 -1831) • PREDICTED UNIFICATION OF GERMANY • STATE NOT BOUND TO RESPECT ANY INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

JAKOB & WILHELM GRIMM • LINGUISTS TRAVELING GERMANY RESEARCHING DIALECTS & FOLK TALES • PROCLAIMED GERMAN LANGUAGE WAS PRE-EMINENT OVER OTHER LANGUAGES

Napoleon’s Influence • Unified German peoples against him • Spread nationalist ideas

Congress of Vienna (1815) • German states reduced to 39 controlled by Austria (German Confederation) • Confederation was weak and ineffective at stirring nationalist feelings

The “Three Germanies”

Zollverein (1819) • Encouraged free trade among German states & maintained high tariffs against nonmembers • Benefited German workers and manufacturers

FAILURE OF THE 1848 REVOLUTION • German liberals led a series of revolts aimed at ending autocracy & unifying Germany • Frankfurt Assembly (Parliament) convened to institute democratic rule; proclaimed German unification. • Offered king of Prussia to be emperor of unified Germany but he REJECTED Wanted to be elected by princes HRE style

FAILURE OF THE 1848 REVOLUTION • King of Prussia refused offer • Conservatives retake power • End of Frankfurt assembly

Obstacles to Unity • A history of disunity • No natural boundaries • France and Austria

Otto von Bismarck • Chief minister of Prussia – 1862 • Member of land owning aristocracy (Junkers) • Loyalty to the King • Manipulator (Machiavelli style)

Bismarck rejects liberalism • The master of “Realpolitik” • Politics based on reality, not idealism • AKA nations acting in their own interests rather than trying to uphold ideals like altruism, morals, etc. • Germany will be won by blood & Iron!

Kaiser William (Wilhelm? ? ) I • Hohenzollern King of Prussia (1861 -1888) • Became emperor of Germany (1871) • Supporter of Bismarck

Helmuth von Moltke • Prussian General & Chief of Staff • Assured Bismarck’s success by building large, powerful army & achieving military success

STEPS IN GERMAN UNIFICATION (1862 -1871)

STEP 1: CREATION OF PRUSSIAN MILITARY POWER: • 1862 -Bismarck requested the build up of German military • Prussian legislature refused • Bismarck ignored law makers & violated Prussian constitution by ruling as a dictator until 1867 • Bismarck & von Moltke create strong and powerful military

STEP 2: ELIMINATION OF AUSTRIAN INFLUENCE: • Danish War (1864) – Bismarck brought about war with Denmark over control of Schleswig & Holstein • With help from Austria, Denmark was defeated • Prussia & Austria share influence of the 2 regions

STEP 2: ELIMINATION OF AUSTRIAN INFLUENCE: • Austro-Prussian War (1866) – Bismarck starts war with Austria over control of conquered territories • von Moltke’s armies quickly defeat Austria • Prussia gains control of territories and Austria loses control of Germany

STEP 3: NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION (1867) • Bismarck annexed several north German states • Compelled the remaining ones to join in a Prussian-dominated North German Confederation • Southern German states still remain under Prussian influence due to the Zollverein

STEP 3: NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION (1867) • Franco-Prussian War (18671871) – Bismarck starts war with France to unify southern German states with Prussia • EMS Telegram – Bismarck changed a message to be insulting to France, starts war • von Moltke’s armies defeated France

STEP 3: NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION (1867) With the Treaty of Frankfurt… • FRANCE CEDED TO GERMANY THE PROVINCES OF ALSACE & LORRAINE • PAY GERMANY HUGE WAR INDEMNITY • CONSENTED TO GERMAN MILITARY OCCUPATION UNTIL INDEMNITY WAS PAID • PLANTED SEEDS FOR WORLD WAR I

STEP 4: ESTABLISHMENT OF GERMAN EMPIRE (1871) • During Franco-Prussian War, southern German states unified with Prussia • 1871 - at Palace of Versailles, Bismarck proclaimed William I as Emperor of German Empire • Second Reich

Formation of the German Reich 1870

CATILINE = “conspirator”

The United German Empire - 1871

Assignment List • Liberalism/Conservatism/Nationalism readings/questions • Greek Independence DBQ outline • Dickens Readings Questions • 1848 Revolutions Chart, Mazzini SOAPPS on back • France’s 2 nd Empire & Hausmann’s Paris Reading Questions • Focus Questions from Chapter 21 -22