German Disunity

In what ways was Germany disunited?

• States had their own traditions and powers over education, justice, agriculture, religion and local government.

• Over 60% of the population was protestant, but Catholicism was strong in areas such as Alsace-Lorraine and among the Poles.

• 10% of the population was made up of ethnic minorities, e.g. the Poles, Danes and French.

• Economic divisions (rich and poor) and social devisions (urban and rural).

What is nationalism?

Loyalty and devotion to a nation especially as expressed in a glorifying of one nation above all others and a stressing of the promotion of its culture and interests.

How did Germany develop economically?

• The war with France stimulated the economy. Alsace-Lorraine contained Europe’s largest deposits of iron ore and production increased rapidly after 1871. Huge indemnity payments helped cause a short-lived boom which assisted banks, in turn providing capital for new railways and the new industries.

• 1871-1890 coal production soared, steal production increased by 700% and the railway network doubled in size.

What was the result of the growing industry?

• Swelled the ranks of the industrial working class.

• 1871 - only 5% of Germans lived in urban areas.

• 1900 - nearly 20% of Germans lived in urban areas.

• The proletariat became attracted to socialism while the peasantry was conservative.

What is the proletariat?

The growing numbers of industrial workers.

How was there disunity in society?

• Mobility tended to be within classes instead of between classes.

• The higher levels of the civil service and army remained reserved for the nobility.

• Any threat to the nobility came from the wealthy industrials who tried to be equal to the nobility instead of overcoming them.

• The middle class was expanding but most Germans were agricultural or industrial workers.

• There was a drift to the cities, despite poor living and working conditions, since agricultural life was hard.