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UNIFICATION OF GERMANY - Coggle Diagram
UNIFICATION OF GERMANY
VOMÄRZ PERIOD (1815-1848)
Some Background
GERMAN CONFEDERATION
Established in 1815 congress of vienna
The "Diet" is used as a standing congress for issues, with limited influence for smaller states, sometimes labelled as "ineffective"
Dominated by Austria in the early days, Prussia very quickly emerges as a rival power
Not a parliament, elected representatives by rulers
Metternich aims for long term stability so the german states could work together as a stiff centre against russia and france
re-instates the monarchies into their old seats, therefore neutralising liberals and nationalists
the 1830 revolution in Paris leads to fears that the German Confederation is incapable of countering french advances into the rhineland, and the overthrowal of their reactionary leader
Leads to protests and gatherings across Germany
E.g Hambach Festival (May 1832) ; 30,000 liberals and nationalists gathered, a sign of Metternich's failure
"Six Articles" introduced in june, in response
Strict guidelines for constitutional work
Central Bureau of Political Investigation created
Burschenshaften (secret societies) members could be trialed for high treason
Liberals and nationalists become more radical in response to these policies, A Backfire for Metternich
Metternich later introduces the "Ten Articles" in the same year which, chiefly, bans all political parties
Zollverein customs union established in 1834
A free trade agreement created and dominated by Prussia, including almost all german states, but importantly, not Austria
Massively boosts the economies of all involved, especially Prussia
GROUP 2:
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Fear of a war with France boosts nationalism during this time
Frederick Wilhelm IV of Prussia comes to power 1840
he believes that nationalism ≠ liberalism
Spring of Revolution 1848
The Paris february revolution 1848 sends ripples into the rhineland, and from there across germany
Radicals start to organise petitions, deputations and demonstrations, leading to a massive opinion boost
German Princes give in to liberal demands, rather than having their own people shot
E.g no more press censhorship, trial by jury and ministerial responsibility introduced
"DAS TOLLE JAHR" (1848-49)
Revolutionaries in Vienna send Metternich into exile and there is chaos in Berlin
Frederick Wilhelm IV grants a constitution to create peace and order in Berlin => positions Prussia as the leader or the liberal/nationalist cause of Germany
Crowds take to the streets in joy and the chaos continues
Wilhelm sends in the army to calm people down and get some order back
The trigger happy Junker cavalry end up firing into the crowds, killing many
People barricade the city to protect themselves => more chaos
Wilhelm decides to send the army out of the city ro try and reconcile with the people and save lives, but the police end up leaving too
BIG PROBLEM! => He and the government officials are now alone in a city of angry people
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German states start getting constitutions and show general commitment to unification ideas, supervised by the new liberal minded "march ministers"
FRANKFURT ASSEMBLY!!
A new assembly is created in Frankfurt for the unification and nationalist ideas to be discussed by representatives of the German states
3/4 German males could vote for their "local notable"
Executive power is given to Archduke John of Austria as the new "Imperial Vicar"
However this ends up being a powerless position, as the Assembly has no real power of its own, relying on the faith and support of member states. Prussia and Austria never truly recognise the Vicar's Authority, undermining it
Kleindeutsch or Großdeutsch?
Frankfurt assembly issues the "Verfassung des Deutschen Reiches" the Constitution of the German Empire in march 1849
Fullfilled the wishes of german liberals and the national movements
Said there will be:
A constitutional monarchy with a hereditary emperor (Kaiser)
A foundation of basic civil rights
e.g Assembly, freedom of speech, etc
Federal structure
All they had to do now was decide what kind of germany they wanted
Problems with both solutions:
Großdeutschland
Austria's recovery after radetsky's Victory against italy meant they were too strong (according to Prussia)
Vetoes from the Austrian PM, in order to try and keep Austrian dominance and influence over the german states
The non german areas of Austria were under personal unions with the king, so Austria would have to be broken up in order ot just have the german speaking regions
Kleindeutschland
Not all nationalists liked the militaristic, protestant and autocratic Prussia to be the power of German unifcation
Hardcore nationalists were unsatisfied with this smaller option
Kleindeutschland was chosen, as it was better than no germany at all
Crown is offered to Wilhelm IV but...... HE REJECTS IT!!
He doesnt want his power and authority to come from the people, who are offering it to him, (seen as below him) and believes he should be in power because of his might and divine right
Later the states of Saxony, Palatinate and Baden try to continue the nationalist movement and become centres of the "second revolution"
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POST-"DAS TOLLE JAHR" AND THE GERMAN UNIFICATION WARS
Frederick Wilhelm IV dies in 1861 and is succeeded by his son Wilhelm Friederich Ludwig, or Wilhelm I
German industrialisation starts to rapidly accelerate after 1850 and Prussia begins to take off economically, leaving behind all other states, even Austria
over 80% population growth from 1816-1865
Otto Von Bismarck
Born to an aristocratic Junker family in the countryside, Bismarck took the office of Prime minister of Prussia, in a time when nationalism was resurging and there was tensions between the parliament and aristocracy/monarchy
He embodied the idea of Realpolitik, where ideological ideas and values were far less important than results, and even diplomatic alliances should be abandoned once they were no longer useful
Becomes Prime Minister in 1862
The crimean war highlights the inneffectiveness of the Prussian army, and Helmut Von Moltke is appointed chief of army in 1857, and he starts a series of reforms on the army
Expands and professionalises General Staff
Institutes mandatory war gaming and training excercises
Implements telegraph technology into the army
Brings reforms to war strategy, focusing on quick, mobile warfare
Advocates for the use of railways for the army
These reforms however were opposed y the liberal-middleclass of the assembly/parliament who blocked the money for these reforms for two years until 1862
when Bismarck becomes Prime minister in 1862 he ignores the parliament and constitution, gathering taxes himself for the army, believing that people trusted the executive and king more than the parliament
This works and the army gets their reforms, making them one of the most powerful in the world
Danish-Prussian war (1864)
The new king of Denmark, Christian IX moved to absorb the autonomous duchy of Schleswig into the Danish state, which was a violation of the 1852 london protocols.
The german confederation was outraged, as there was a large german population, and voted for war, occupying Holstein
Bismarck didnt want the confederation to take action alone, nor did he want Austria to step in as a leader, so he in partnership with Austria, entered the war
Denmark was crushed after just 8 months, as they got no support form anyone (France or GB)
Convention of Gastein: Schleswig goes to Prussia and Holstein to Austria
Bismarck used this war to reform his image among nationalists and liberals, saying it was all done in the interest of "Germany"
Austro-Prussian War (1866), The "Six weeks War"
Prussia challenges Austria for dominance over the German confederation, Uses Austrian administration over Holstein as the pretext for war
Bismarck knows that since the Austrians abandoned the Russians in the Crimean War, they no longer have any allies
Italy mobilises against Austria too in spring and Prussian army takes Holstein
Austrian troops are divided on two fronts, and get demolished by the advanced Prussian tactics, troop movement (railways!) and the Breech-loading "Needle Gun" adopted by the Prussians
Treaty of Prague: the German Confederation is abolished and the new North German Confederation is created, leaving Austria outside of german politics
North German Confederation (1867-1871)
A federal state with the prussian king at its head, included all of the northern german states
Democratic:
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Anti-democratic:
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The Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)
The ems dispatch causes great offence amongst the french and they declare war on the north german confederation
This is where the french demanded thet king Wilhelm I remove his relatives candidacy to the spanish throne, as french feared encirclement of hohenzollern (german ruling family) from germany and spain
The king accepted but the french demanded further assurances, so the king dismissed them. Bismarck received this "Ems Dispatch" and edited it to be much more inflammatory and dismissive, leading to outrage amongst french nationalists and government
North German Confederation fighting a "defensive war" so the southern german states join in support
outnumbered and outplanned by france (400,000 vs 250,000)
Battle of Sedan (1-2 Sept 1870)
100,000 french soldiers and Napoleon III himself surrender
The new nationalist government that took over in Paris continue fighting => siege and bombardment of Paris
They, too, surrender in emd of Jan 1871
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German Empire proclaimed on 18th January 1871 in versailles, with the unification of all german states
France is left without allies
GB: disapproved of french candidacy and supporting mexican rebellions
Russia: france played a role in its defeat at crimea and therefore the end to its black sea ambitions
Austria: undergoing domestic reforms after the Austro-Prussian war
Italy: french influence (troops) in rome is now removed due to this war
GERMAN EMPIRE (1871-1918)
Foreign Policy
The Draikaiserbund (league of the three emperors) signed in 1873 with Austria-Hungary and Russia
An alliance of conservative monarchies aiming to keep the status quo, there is little substance to this alliance however, and no military features
Rapid french recovery in 1875 leads to the War in sight crisis
The germans want a war to stop france early, but rumours of this spread to GB and Russia who send protests to germany, ultimately Bismarck doesnt want to isolate germany so he walks the stance back.
Crisis in the balkans 1875-76, there are massive christian revolts in the Ottoman Empire
This leads to the Russo-Turkish war in 1877-78, as Russia steps in as the defender of the Ottoman's orthodox and slav subjects
Proposed Treaty of Stan Stefano - Russia, mainly, wanted the creation of Big Bulgaria (under Russian influence), which alarmed Austria and GB
Congress of Berlin 1878 with Bismarck as the Broker = Bulgaria is split up into 3 smaller states
Russia is outraged and leaves the Draikaiserbund, strengthening garrisons, and germany implements a grain tariff on them
Bismarcks aim at foreign policy 1871-90 = keep france isolated and keep good relations with both austria and france
Dual alliance with Austria in 1879 which later becomes the Triple alliance in 1882 when Italy joins
Kaiser Wilhelm I opposed this "anti-russian" alliance, but Bismarck threatened to resign
Italy was of no importance, purely to deprive france of a potential ally
Renewed Draikaiserbund in 1881
Purely symbolic, there is no terms, but it is agreed that Austria will influence western balkans whilst Russia will influence Eastern balkans
SECRET REINSURANCE TREATY BETWEEN RUSSIA AND GERMANY 1888
Due to the worsened relations between Austria and Russia over the balkans, so
germany agrees to stay neutral if Austria attacks Russia, and Russia will stay neutral if France attacks Germany
allows Germany to not worry about an alliance of Russia and France, but doesnt stop it attacking France, whilst also getting to defend Austria if it is attacked by Russia
Kaiser Wilhelm II doesnt renew this treaty after he forces Bismarck to resign in 1890
4 months later French warships call at Russian naval base of Kronstadt!
Domestic Policy
Challenges for the German Empire
Independance ambitions in some regions, e.g Bavaria
Bavaria only joins the German Empire as the Prince realises that they will have little influence outside of it, and Prussia gives him finances for his fairytale castles, Some Bavarian privileges also remain (such as their oen army, taxation, etc)
The system had a democratic facade
Kaiser Wilhelm II believed that power was his birthright (it was the german princes who offered him the crown in versailles, not the people) and so the government still reflected this
The executive (Emporer and Chancellor (who was dependant on the kaiser not the Reichstag!) and cabinet) had all the real power
Emperor still controlled the army and could interpret constitution
The Bundesrat and Reichstag could only debate policies and approve budgets
Catholic minority
Significant Catholic minority in the south, with people having a link to the papacy, Bismarck doesnt like this as he only wants them to be loyal to the German state
Leads to his Kulturkampf policies after Pius IX's doctrine of Papal infallibility in 1870
Kulturkampf (peaks in 1875)
A series of laws restricting church operations in Germany. Such as:
Schools moved under State authority
Jesuits expelled
Government prescribed clergy education and sometimes could even appoint church officials
civil marriage is encouraged
no more financial aid to the church
Prussian catholics lose legal and Civil rights
Most monasticc orders are outlawed and those who chose Rome over the Reich are imprisoned and exiled
The Vatican threatens excommunication to those who follow these laws
As the catholic centre party gains more power, and Bismarck needs them to approve some of his ideas, along with the threat of socialism rising and worsening relations with Catholic nations (e.g Austria-Hungary) it is called off in 1878
Socialism in Germany
Bismarck distrusted the internationalism of the SDP and its program of social equality
After the kulturkampf and two assassination attempts on the kaiser, socialist newspapers and meetings are outlawed
Police allowed to imprison or deport socialists
1500 imprisoned, others emigrate instead
However SDP continues to grow
The biggest party by 1912
Bismarck decides to implement a series of Paternalistic laws
State and disability pensions for over 70 introduced in 1889
Medical insurance (for 3 million low paid and their families)
Accident Insurance for Workers and Agricultural workers
Employers disliked all these new costs and many workers were suspicious of the governments true motives