German Unification Flashcards

Flashcards about German Unification

What was the significance of the Dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire (Aug 6, 1806)?

Abdication leads to power vacuum, ignites nationalist sentiments against French domination.

What was the significance of Johann Gottlieb Fichte's Addresses to the German Nation (Oct 1806 - Jun 1807)?

Foundational for German nationalism.

What was the significance of the Battle of Leipzig (Oct 16-19, 1813)?

Symbolizes German liberation and unity.

What was the significance of the Formation of the German Confederation (Jun 9, 1815)?

Falls short of actual unification.

What was the significance of the Wartburg Festival (Oct 18-19, 1817)?

Vital expression of nationalism.

What was the significance of the Assassination of August von Kotzebue (Mar 23, 1819)?

Suppresses nationalist groups but strengthens underground.

What was the significance of the Hambach Festival (May 27, 1832)?

Significant event for the nationalist movement.

What was the significance of the Establishment of the Zollverein (Jan 1, 1834)?

Enhances Prussian influence.

What was the significance of the March Revolution (Mar 18, 1848)?

Compels support for German unification.

What was the significance of the Frankfurt Parliament (May 18, 1848)?

Representative democracy aimed at unification.

What was the significance of the Rejection of the German Imperial Crown (Mar 28 - Apr 3, 1849)?

Undermines liberal nationalism.

What was the significance of the Olmütz Punctation (Nov 29, 1850)?

Halts hopes for Prussian-led unification.

What was the significance of Bismarck being appointed Minister President (Sep 23, 1862)?

Marks the beginning of serious unification efforts.

What was the significance of the Gastein Convention (Jun 1, 1865)?

Foreshadows future conflict.

What was the significance of First Austro-Prussian War (Jun 14, 1866)?

Establishes Prussian dominance.

What was the significance of the Battle of Königgrätz (Jul 3, 1866)?

Ends Austrian influence over German states.

What was the significance of the Formation of the North German Confederation (Jul 1, 1867)?

Lays the groundwork for the German Empire.

What was the significance of the Franco-Prussian War (begins Jul 19, 1870)?

Aids Bismarck in uniting southern states with Prussia.

What was the significance of the Proclamation of the German Empire (Jan 18, 1871)?

Culmination of the nationalist movement and unification.

What is the Vormärz period?

A period in German history from 1815 to 1848 characterized by a rise in liberal and nationalist movements leading up to the March Revolution.

Who are the bourgeois?

The middle class, typically associated with capitalism and the ownership of capital, which played a significant role in social and political change during the 19th century.

What was the Enlightenment?

An intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism of traditional authority, influencing revolutionary ideas in Europe.

What were the Napoleonic Wars?

A series of conflicts involving France and various coalitions from 1803 to 1815, resulting in significant political changes in Europe, including the spread of nationalist ideas.

What was the German Confederation?

A loose association of German states formed in 1815 following the Congress of Vienna, aimed at coordinating the states' policies and security until its dissolution in 1866.

What was Burschenschaft?

A student fraternity movement in Germany in the 19th century promoting nationalist ideas and liberal reforms, often associated with the March Revolution.

What was the March Revolution?

A series of protests and uprisings in 1848 throughout the German states, part of a broader wave of revolutions in Europe, motivated by demands for liberalization and national unity.

What were the Carlsbad Decrees?

Restrictions enacted in 1819 by the German Confederation aimed at suppressing liberal and nationalist movements, including censorship and restrictions on student organizations.

What were the Six Articles?

A set of laws enacted by the German Confederation in 1832 aimed at limiting the activities of liberal organizations, reinforcing the power of monarchies.

What was the Frankfurt Diet?

An assembly of representatives from German states held in Frankfurt in 1848-1849 to discuss constitutional reforms and national unity.

What were the Ten Articles?

Laws passed in 1834 which outlined further restrictions on political freedoms in the German Confederation, curtailing liberal movements.

What was the Zollverein?

A customs union among various German states established in 1834 to promote free trade and economic cooperation, strengthening ties among German regions.

What was the Middle Union?

A term used to describe the various German states that were part of the Zollverein and inclined toward a unified German economic area.

What were the Zollverein Congress?

Meetings held to discuss and manage trade and customs regulations within the Zollverein, aiming for economic integration among its member states.

What role did railroads play?

A mode of transportation that became increasingly important in the 19th century, facilitating trade, movement, and communication within Germany and beyond.

What was Großdeutsche Lösung?

The Greater German Solution, a concept promoting the unification of all German-speaking peoples, including Austria, into a single German state.

What was Kleindeutsche Lösung?

The Lesser German Solution, advocating for a German unification excluding Austria, ultimately leading to the formation of the German Empire in 1871.

What does handverker mean?

Referring to skilled tradesmen or craftsmen in the context of labour and economic discussions during the 19th century, particularly in relation to guilds and professional organizations.

What was the anti-Guild Movement?

Movements or sentiments against traditional trade guilds, advocating for more liberalized practices and free trade in response to changing economic conditions.

What is Free Trade?

An economic policy of allowing commerce without restrictions or tariffs, promoting competition and economic growth, significant in the discussions surrounding the Zollverein.

What was Hecker Putsch?

An uprising initiated by revolutionary leader Fritz Hecker in 1848, aimed at inciting a democratic upheaval during the March Revolution, though it ultimately failed.

What does Reichsverweser mean?

A title meaning Imperial Administrator in German politics, used during periods of governance in which an oversight body managed Imperial affairs in the German Empire.

Who were the Junker landowners?

Prussian landowners from the aristocratic class who held significant social and economic power, often opposing liberal reforms while supporting conservatism.

What is Realpolitik?

A pragmatic approach to politics that prioritizes practical results over ideological considerations, often associated with Bismarck's policies in 19th century Germany.

What does casus belli mean?

A Latin term meaning “cause for war,” used to describe an action or situation that justifies a conflict or military action between states.

What was the Battle of Sadowa?

A decisive battle fought in 1866 during the Austro-Prussian War, resulting in a victory for Prussia and shifting the balance of power within the German Confederation.

What was the Zollparlament?

A parliamentary assembly related to the Zollverein that facilitated discussions and decisions regarding trade policies and economic cooperation among the member states.

What was the Luxembourg Crisis?

A political crisis in the mid-19th century concerning the status of Luxembourg, which aggravated tensions between France, Prussia, and Belgium, reflecting broader European rivalries.

What was the London Conference?

A diplomatic meeting held in 1864 to address issues regarding the Polish crisis and the status of Luxembourg, involving major European powers and aiming to maintain peace.

What was the Hohenzollern Candidature Crisis?

A diplomatic incident in 1870 regarding the candidacy of a Hohenzollern prince for the Spanish throne, which increased tensions between France and Prussia, leading to the Franco-Prussian War.

What was the Ems Telegram?

A communication in 1870 from King Wilhelm I of Prussia that was manipulated by Otto von Bismarck to provoke France into declaring war, contributing to the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War.

What was the Franco-Prussian War?

A conflict between France and Prussia from 1870 to 1871 that resulted in a decisive Prussian victory and the unification of Germany under the Prussian crown.

What was the Battle of Sedan?

A decisive battle in the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 where the Prussian army defeated the French forces, leading to the capture of Napoleon III and significantly contributing to the war's outcome.

What was the Treaty of Frankfurt?

A treaty signed in 1871 that concluded the Franco-Prussian War, imposing heavy reparations on France and leading to the establishment of the German Empire.

What is Revanchism?

A political movement in France seeking to regain territories lost to Germany after the Franco-Prussian War, such as Alsace-Lorraine, often characterized by nationalist sentiments.

What was the German Empire?

The federal state established in 1871 following German unification, which marked the culmination of nationalist movements in Germany and the consolidation of various German states under Prussian leadership.