kq3- how effected were reforms in prussia in enabling it to rival austria

shift in ideology

• von manteuffel became first minister of prussia

  • replaced von radowitz after punctation of olomouc

  • conservative but could see ancien regime ending

  • constitutional framework needed

von manteuffel changes in state

• state politically conservative but economically liberal

• tension created between ultra conservatives and monarch

police force

• expanded, mainly secret police used for control

• sent spies to watch political opponents

  • said even crown prince william was under surveilllance

tax reform

• 1851- new income and tax

• collections more efficient

• allowed civil service to improve

• increased military spending budget

economic reform

• 1856- cabinet drew up legislation to restrict joint stock banks

• manteuffel rejected after listening to leading businessmen

press reform

• censorship ended but not for liberal reasons

• wanted to shape press output

  • government bought newspaper ‘The Deutsche Reform’ to be its mouthpiece

  • government friendly newspapers given subsidies

  • Press Agency created as part of civil service

liberalism advancements

• liberalisation of the economy

  • free trade, movement of labour, freedom of press

  • socialist movement grew in working class

what was the nationalverein

• founded 1859 by influential liberals

• following the defeat of austria in 1859

• believed in kleindeutschland

  • membership limited to professional classes in north german states

  • 250,000 members

  • sent speakers to public gatherings

south german radicals

• 1862- formed their own Deutscher Reformverein in direct opposition

• only 1500 members

  • little influence

regency and ascension of william I

• 1861- crowned king after frederick william I died

• sacked von manteuffel and his cabinet

• previously a soldier- ascension pleased army

  • created reformed cabinet with both liberals and conservatives

  • moderate liberals won small majority in 1858 parliament

  • he didn’t want to ignore that

army reform

• 1860- william appointed general von roon as minister for war

• february 1860 army reform bill soon introduced

  • military service increased from minimum of 2 to 3 years

  • reduce size of landwehr- “people’s army”

  • doubled size of re equipped army

response to army reform

• major fall out from liberals

• army seen as an instrument of the king and ultra conservatives to subdue citizens

1860-62 constitutional crisis

• 1860- agitation about army reform so bill not passed

  • only military budget bill passed

• 17 members of liberal faction broke away from parliament

  • formed progressive party in january 1861

  • william dissolved parliament & called new election

  • 100 progressive party members elected with only 15 ultras

• 1862- bismarck appointed

impact of bismarck’s appointment

• pragmatic with realpolitik approach

  • not confined to 1 ideology- would do what it took to achieve goals

• abandoned compromise

  • new policy of open confrontation

• military reform put into work

  • levied taxes to pay for it

  • parliament outraged but powerless

blood and iron

• need for strong military to solve german question

• appealed to working class who supported

bismarck’s loss in support

• 1863 elections- returned only 38 pro government deputies

• good foreign policy helped → engineered rapproachment with Russia in 1863 convention of alvensleben

• blocked austrian attempts to join zollverein

  • blocked austrian plans to reform the confederation