AICE Euro German Unification

Flashcards reviewing key vocabulary and concepts related to German Unification.

Confederation of the Rhine

Reorganized German states by Napoleon in West Germany, fostering a sense of unity among the German people against French presence.

Battle of Leipzig (1813)

A pivotal battle that ignited German nationalism and is considered the starting point of German unification.

Prince Klemens von Metternich

Austrian foreign minister who championed the Metternich system to maintain absolute monarchy in German states.

Congress of Vienna (1814)

A meeting of European nations to address issues arising from the Napoleonic Wars and establish new boundary lines, aiming to restore monarchies.

Metternich System

Aimed to maintain absolute monarchy in German Unification by censorship, and keeping peace in Europe at the cost of resentment from people.

King Friedrick Wilhelm III

King of Prussia who was an authoritarian Junker.

Junker

Conservative land owning class

Nationalists

Believed people of the same race, language, culture, or history should be united in an independent nation

Prussia

Largest German state with Berlin as its capital, backed by Junkers, challenging Austria with doubled population in 1815 after gaining territory in western Germany.

Liberals

Advocated for representation through parliament, constitutional monarchy, laissez-faire economics, and removal of tariffs between German states.

Hambach Festival 1832

A gathering in Bavaria where liberals and nationalists discussed political ideas, leading to Metternich's crackdown with imprisonments and restrictions on political freedom.

Zollverein (1834)

Customs union of 18 German states created by Prussia, abolishing customs barriers and establishing the largest free trade area in Europe.

National Diet

Legislative assembly called by King Friedrich Wilhelm IV.

Vorparlament

Preparliament that met after the meeting at Heidelberg in March 1848.

Frankfurt Parliament (1848-1849)

National parliament elected after the revolutions that wanted a strong central government with more authority over the German states.

Schleswig and Holstein Crisis

German speaking population would rebel against becoming part of Denmark, in turn the Frankfurt Parliament would authorize the Prussian army to fight against Denmark.

Erfurt Union (1850)

Friedrich Wilhelm IV plan for a union of German states on a strong central government, an elected assembly, adn Prussian control of the army.

Otto von Manteuffel

Prime minister of Prussia from 1850-1858.

Grossdeutschland Solution

Proposed by Austria, suggesting Austria, Prussia, and larger German states rule together.

National Society/Nationalverein

Founded in 1859 by business professionals hoping Prussia would lead German unification.

Landwehr

Semi civilian middle class militia

Landtag

Liberal political group concerned with the downgrading of Landwehr.

German Progressive Party

Organized by Liberals

Otto von Bismarck

Appointed Minister-President in 1862 to resolve the issue between parliament and Wilhelm I.

Danish War 1864

Bismarck’s main goal was to make Prussia the dominant power in northern Germany by excluding Austria from the region. Austria and Prussia went to war with Denmark over the Schleswig-Holstein territory that didn’t want to join Denmark.

Gastein Convention

Determined Holstein for Austria and Schelswig for Prussia.

Austro-Prussian War 1866

Prussians achieved victory in 7 weeks.

Treaty of Prague

Allowed Bismarck to replace Autrian German Confederation with the North German Confederation under Prussia.

North German Confederation

New confederation established Prussian power over an additional 4 million people in Northern Germany. King of Prussia had control over confederations foreign policy and decisions on war and peace

EMS telegram

The French government tried to negotiate with Prussia by sending an EMS telegram. Bismarck edited the telegram and published the edited version to rally the German people against France.

Franco-Prussian war 1870-1871

War incited by EMS telegram.

German Emperor/ Kesier

Wilhem I took the title in January 1871

Alsace and Lorraine

Territories were to act as buffer zone between France and new South German states to provent future invasions that France was forced concede.