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Chapter 4 Austro-Prussian Rivalry: The position of Prussia after 1848 -…
Chapter 4 Austro-Prussian Rivalry: The position of Prussia after 1848
International Situation
Crimean War
played no role
by remaining strictly neutral, managed to keep on good terms with other European powers, esp. Russia
Austria also remained neutral, but gained little diplomatic respect due to wavering stance -> generally sided against Russia without committing itself to Britain and France -> lost Russian friendship w/o obtaining that of Britain and France
North Italian War
1859, French Emperor Napoleon III supported Piedmont against Austria, Piedmont seeking to increase influence in northern Italy at Austria's expense. Austria defeated
Prussia could have profited if it had supported Piedmont, but popular feeling was anti-French
tried to benefit by offering Austria help in exchange for conceding Prussian primacy in Germany
Austria's speedy defeat and willingness to make peace with Napoleon III prevented Prussia's aims being realised
war severe blow to Austrian prestige - lost Lombardy, worsened finances
Economic Success
1850s, Prussian economy boomed
Industrial production, railway building and foreign trade more than doubled
Reasons for this:
Zollverein - but it did not protect Prussian industries or create a unified German economy
Education system - good from primary schools to university
plentiful supply of iron, coal and chemicals
good communications system - railways grew 5865km - 18,876km 1850-70
railway development encouraged other industries, e.g. coal, iron, steel
individuals, e.g. Alfred Krupp - 1846-60s company grew from 140 to thousands of workers. Krupps became main manufacturer of weapons for Prussian army
Role of the state in industrial development: (debate over help/hinder econ dev)
subsidised railway building
used state bank to finance industrial pilot projects and set up technical schools
but, no clear or consistent policy to investment
entrepreneurial activity in areas e.g. mining, banking, textiles may have held back potentially more valuable private investment
Industrial expansion -> economic and financial power which gave Prussia advantage in Austrian rivalry
Political situation
The growth of liberalism
Despite repression and reaction post-1848, liberalism grew in Prussia and Germany in strength, supported by increasingly self-confident middle-class
liberals formed a majority in the elected assembly of Prussia - electoral system advantaged middle-class liberal elite
1850s, general political apathy in Prussia - few bothered to use their franchise
right-wing liberal politicians were suspicious of full democracy (1848 showed how easily mass involvement descended into revolution) - wanted to end dominance of aristocracy and army over government
left-wing liberals wanted universal suffrage
both felt national unity the absolute priority
Conservative reform
Manteuffel governed without parliament for whole of his time as minister-president (1850-8)
imposed strict censorship, restricted freed om of political parties to hold meetings
believed ministers had duty to govern well (this meant governing in the interests of all people) and best way to reduce chance of revolution was to improve living conditions of peasants and workers
Reform in the countryside
all peasants freed from feudal obligations to landlords
special low-interest government loans made available to enable peasants to buy their land - 600,000 did so
where there was overpopulation + pressure on the land, the govt gave peasants financial help to move to less populated areas
Reform in the towns
payment of standard minimum wage encouraged
inspectors appointed to improve working conditions in factories
children under 12 forbidden to work in factories
industrial courts set up to help in the settlement of disputes
post-1848: constitution with universal suffrage
but, not democratic - voters divided into 3 classes according to tax paid
upper house was preserve of landowning aristocracy
king controlled army, had veto and right to rule by decree
William I
1858, William became regent, 1861, ascended to Prussian throne
soldier, conservative, practical, hard-headed, inflexible (only Bismarck able to change his mind)
protestant (felt only answerable to God), an absolutist
when he became regent, he dismissed Manteuffel, replaced him with ministry of liberals and conservatives
1858 elections, liberals gain small majority, but Wilhelm did not want them to play a significant role
Reform of the army
Wilhelm wanted to reform the army
little done to reform the army since 1815 - mobilisation during North Italian War disastrous
1860, minister of war General von Roon introduced bill to reform army. Aimed to:
double regular army's size
increase period of service 2-3 years
reduce role of Landwehr
re-equip the troops
King vs. Parliament
Bill angered liberals
feared govt might use army against own people (as in 1848-9), civilian Landwehr was popular - felt it was citizens' army (despite military shortcomings), increase in service - step to militarisation of society
Wilhelm was determined that army matters should be beyond parliamentary control, liberals felt that Parliament should had financial control over army expenditure (had little power otherwise)
Constitutional crisis 1860-2
Bismarck ignores Prussian parliament
solved problem by withdrawing military budget, declaring that parliament's support was unnecessary as reforms could be financed from taxation
liberals suggested people could refuse to pay taxes, Bismarck responded that he had 200,000 soldiers to persuade them
Bismarck appointed 1862
Wilhelm contemplated abdication
22 September, Bismarck appointed chief minister (on advice of Roon)
seen as deliberate affront to liberals - felt he was bigoted reactionary
1860, parliament only agreed to increased military budget for a year
June 1861, radical liberals formed Progressive Party - popular, not royal army
December 1861, in new parliament Progressives largest party
Wilhelm dissolved parliament, liberal ministers replaced with conservatives
May 1862 elections - triumph for Progressives - alliance had overall majority
September, parliament refused to pass army bill
Constitutional crisis 'solved'
parliament declared Bismarck's actions illegal, but he ignored this and army reforms went ahead
for 4 years he directed Prussian affairs without constitutionally approved budgets and in the face of fierce parliamentary opposition
1863 elections - liberals gain 70% of seats
but, opponents avoided appeal to force - didn't want repeat of 1848