Nationalism Building a German Nation Moving Toward Unification
Nationalism Building a German Nation
Moving Toward Unification • In early 1800 s, German-speaking people lived in small or medium-sized states as well as in Prussia and the Austrian Hapsburg empire • Between 1806 -1812 Napoleon annexed lands around the Rhine River, dissolved the Holy Roman Empire, and organized German states into the Rhine Confederation
Moving Toward Unification • Although many saw Napoleon as a hero with enlightened ideas, some fought for the freedom of their lands from France • They began demanding a unified German state • When Napoleon was defeated, Metternich pointed out a unified Germany would topple the governments of the German states • German states were instead organized into the German Confederation headed by Austria
Moving Toward Unification • In the 1830 s, Prussia created an economic union called the Zollerein which dismantled tariff barriers between German states • 1848: members of the Frankfurt Assembly again called for German unification • Offered the throne of a unified Germany to Frederick William IV of Prussia, who refused
Bismarck Unites Germany • Otto von Bismarck came from Prussia’s Junker class made up of conservative landowning nobles • Bismarck served as a Prussian diplomat to both Russia and France • 1862: King William I made him prime minister, but within a decade he became chancellor (the highest official of the monarch)
Bismarck Unites Germany • Bismarck used a policy of “blood and iron” to untie the German states into a unified Germany • Was a master of Realpolitik (realistic politics based on the needs of the state) • Power is more important than principles • Though Bismarck fed on German nationalist ideas to unite Germany, his loyalty was to bring more power to the Prussian ruling dynasty, the Hohenzollerns
Strengthening the Army • As prime minister, Bismarck’s first move was to build up the Prussian army • Because the liberal legislature refused to vote for funds for the military, Bismarck strengthened the army with funds raised for other purposes • During the next decade, Bismarck led Prussian into three wars which increase power and prestige and led to German unification
War with Denmark and Austria • 1864: Prussia and Austria formed an alliance and moved to seize the provinces of Schleswig and Holstein from Denmark • After defeating Denmark and “liberating” the two provinces, Austria would administer Holstein and Prussia would administer Schleswig • Prussia eventually attacks Austria in 1866, defeats them in 7 weeks, and annexed several other north German states
War with Denmark and Austria • Bismarck dissolved the Austrian-led German Confederation and created a Prussian-led German Confederation • Austria remained independent because Bismarck did not want to risk a long war with Austria to take over the nation
The Franco-Prussian War • The Prussian victory over Austria angered Napoleon III in France and a growing rivalry between the two eventually led to the Franco. Prussian War • Bismarck used the memory of Napoleon I’s invasion to spur German Nationalism • Napoleon III did little to avoid the war, hoping to mask problems in France with military glory
The Franco-Prussian War • After being spurred by Bismarck to do so, Napoleon III declared war on Prussia • A superior Prussian force, supported by troops from other German states destroyed the poorly organized and supplied French forces • Within weeks, Napoleon III surrendered and France was forced to accept a humiliating peace
The New German Empire • • • After the victory over France, princes in southern German states and the North German Confederation persuaded King William I to take the title of Kaiser (emperor) January 1871, German nationalists celebrated the birth of the second Reich and the new German nation Bismarck drafted a new constitution for the new nation
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