German Unification - Rolla Public Schools
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Transcript German Unification - Rolla Public Schools
German Unification
Chapter 23
Hohenzollern Dynasty
German Unification
Single
most important political
development in Europe between
1848-1914
Desired
for liberalsachieved for
illiberal reasons
Balance of power transformed
– Economically
– Militarily
– Internationally
German Unification
Transformations
determined
character of new German state
United by
–Conservative army
–Monarchy
–Prime Minister (Prussia)
Motive: outflank Prussian liberals
Background…
1850s—Zollverein
& railroads
Previous attempts to unify
–Prussia— Frederick William IV—
unify under Prussian leadership?
–Austria—opposedmight lessen
influence
–Liberals defeated 1848/49
What changed?
Prussia:
domestic political changes &
problems
– Fredrick William IV—insane
William
I (Wilhelm I)—Prussian
patriot
#1 goal: strengthen ARMY
– Prussian parliament refused taxes
– Liberals within block monarchy
– 2-year deadlock
Otto von Bismarck
Junker
Burchenschaft
– Interest in unification
1840s
provincial diet
– Reactionary
1851-1859—Prussian
minister to
Frankfurt Diet (German Confederation)
– Ambassador to Russia & France
1862—William
I appointed as Prime
Minister of Prussia
Bismarck
Mellowed into conservative
– Opposed parliamentary government
– Approved constitutionalism w/strong monarchy
Strong industrial base
Prussian patriot
Pragmatist—more trust in power & action
– Iron & Blood speech
– 3 wars preserve peace
– “Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see
them being made.”
Germany does not look to Prussia's liberalism,
but to her power. The South German States
would like to indulge in liberalism, and
therefore no one will assign Prussia's role to
them! Prussia must collect her forces and
hold them in reserve for a favorable moment.
Since the treaties of Vienna, our frontiers
have been ill-designed for a healthy national
state. The great questions of the time will be
decided, not by speeches and resolution of
majorities, but by blood and iron.”
September 29, 1862
Prime Minister Bismarck
Moved
against liberal parliament
wo/ new taxes—Constitution allows
govt to carry on w/ previously
granted taxes
taxes could be collected & spent
wo/ parliamentary approval
Machiavellian principles
– Use system to change system
Big Question:
How to attract popular support away from
liberals toward monarchy & army?
Use Prussian conservative principles to
unite Germany
Kleindeutsch approach (no AUSTRIA)
Complex diplomacy~~
Schleswig-Holstein
Belongs
to Denmark (sort of)
Germans & Danes
Holstein German Confederation
1863—Denmark attempt annexation
German Confederation—smaller states
propose WAR
Bismarck—Prussia & Austria v Denmark
1864
– Easy victory—WHY?
Bismarck
PRESTIGE ↑
Aug 1865 Austria &
Prussia
– Convention of Gastein
Austria Holstein
Prussia Schleswig
Next step: Maneuver
Austria into war vs.
Prussia
Other nations….
Russia—Prussia gain sympathy by
supporting Russian suppression of Polish
revolt
France—Nap III promised neutrality to
both Austria & Prussia
Italy—would get Venetia if it attack Austria
in support of Prussia
HOW TO PROVOKE WAR???
Pick a fight….
Constant tension—Schleswig-Holstein
Prussians: be “obnoxious” to Austrians
anywhere & anytime
Austria appealed to German
Confederation end dispute
Austria violated terms of 1864 Alliance &
Convention of Gastein
Austro-Prussian War 1866
7-weeks
war Austria defeated
at Battle of Königgrätz in Bohemia
Treaty of Prague
–August 23, 1866
Austria
lost Venetia to Nap III
to Italy
Ultimate consequences?
Hapsburgs permanently excluded from German
affairs
Prussia—only MAJOR power among German
states
North-German Confederation
Hanover
Supported Austria (losers)
Hesse ()
Annexed by Prussia
Nassau
Frankfurt
Rulers deposed
}
DEUTSCHLAND ÜBER ALLES
President
– King of Prussia
Represented by Chancellor Bismarck
2-house legislature
– Upper—Bundesrat—federal council—
appointed by state’s governments
– Lower—Reichstag—elected universal male
suffrage (conservative)
Responsible only to monarch
Can’t originate legislation
Government…
All laws proposed by Chancellor
Legislature had right to approve military
budgets
Constitution – gives appearance of
liberalism
1871– German Empire—military monarchy
Nationalism more attractive than liberalism
Army & monarchy– most popular
institutions
Southern States?
Machiavelli
Spain—military
II
coup deposed Isabella
– Leopold (Hohenzollern cousin)
France—react strongly—WHY?
Series of meetings—Leopold’s dad recalled
son (pulled off Spanish throne)
France—Can
William I guarantee no
future Spanish thrones for Leopold?
William I “I’ll take it under advisement.”
Manipulation
Communications back/forth France/Prussia
(Bismarck wanted/needed war with France)
Telegram—creative “editing”
“William I insulted France.”
France declared war July 19, 1870
Renewed popular support – “no one kicks
our dog”
Southern States join Prussia v. France
Franco-Prussian War 1870
Battle of Sedan
– Germans defeated French army
– Germans captured Napoleon III
January 1871 – German Empire proclaimed
@ Versailles
– Southern Germans joined Northern German
Confederation
– Requested William I as Emperor
Gained Alsace & Lorraine (French territories)
Germany
New
powerful state in Central
Europe
–Natural resources
–Talented citizens
–German Empire stronger than Prussia
CONSERVATIVE
Backed other CONSERVATIVE powers
Licking their wounds…
2
nations most affected?
France & Austria
–Public demonstration of
weakness
Never underestimate the
power of one truly
determined person….
“I want to play the tune the way it
sounds to me or not at all…my
pride bids me command rather
than obey.”
Otto von Bismarck
Portents of future events??
“A generation that has taken a beating is
always followed by a generation that deals
one.”
Bismarck on France
“Some [darned] foolish thing in the
Balkans.”
Bismarck’s prediction on what would provoke the
next war