T6.3 Unification of Germany World History 2 ( T6 )

RAHHH

Rhine Confederation

Organized number of german states along the Rhine river

German Confederation

A weak alliance of 38 states headed by Austria. While Metternich argued that a united Germany would require dismantling the governments of the German states, the conservative peacemakers instead created this.

Zollverein

Prussian economic union that dismantled internal tariffs between many German States. This helped to unite Germany economically but not politically.

Frankfurt Assembly

German Parliament meets here demanding a German political unity by offering throne of a united German state to Frederick William IV of Prussia but fails.

Frederick William IV

Prussian king during the Revolution of 1848; turned down German throne because he would not accept a throne offered by the people.

Otto von Bismarck

Chancellor of united Germany. Was a Prussian junker who first served as a diplomat in Russia and France, and then as a prime minister to King William I, and then finally a chancellor of united Germany. Although he was the architect of German unity, he was not really a German nationalist. His main goal was to increase Prussia's power, not to fulfill German nationalist arms. His primary loyalty was to the Hohenzollerns, the ruling dynasty of Prussia, and hoped to bring more power to it

Hohenzollern

ruling dynasty of Prussia. Bismarck hoped to bring more power to it during his ruling.

Junker

class in Prussia made up of conservative landowning nobles

Chancellor

the highest official of a united Germany

"blood & iron"

Speech delivered by Otto von Bismarck that set the tone for his future policies. He wanted Prussian legislators to vote for more money to build up the army. Liberal members opposed the move. Bismarck rose and dismissed their concerns with a speech that has become known as this. Despite this speech, the liberal legislature refused to vote for funds for the military.

Realpolitik

realistic politics based on the needs of the state. Power was more important than principles. Bismarck's success was due in part to his strong will. He was a master of this.

Schleswig

Province in Denmark administered by Prussia. Was seized by Prussia and Austria and after a brief war, was liberated and Prussia and Austria divided up the spoils.

Holstein

Province in Denmark administered by Austria. Was seized by Prussia and Austria and after a brief war, was liberated and Prussia and Austria divided up the spoils.

annexed

took control of. Prussia did this to several other German north states after the Austro-Prussian war

William I

Prussian king that Bismarck had released a telegram to the press that reported on a meeting between him and Napoleon III. Bismarck's editing of the "Ems dispatch" made it seem that William I had insulted the Frenchman.

Ems Dispatch

A telegram between Prussian King William I and French king edited by Bismark to insult Napoleon III, causing the Franco-Prussian War as Bismarck had hoped. A superior Prussian force, supported by troops from other German states, smashed the badly organized and poorly supplied French soldiers. Napoleon III, old and ill, surrendered within a few weeks.

Kaiser

emperor. William I of Prussia was persuaded by princes from the southern German states and the North German Confederation to take this title after the victory over France

Reich

empire. They called it the Second because they considered it heir to the Holy Roman Empire, set up in the 900s and abolished by Napoleon I in 1806

Bundesrat

The upper house of the two-house legislature in the constitution drafted by Bismarck which were appointed by the rulers of the German states. Still, the new German nation was far from democratic. Because they could veto any decisions of the Reichstag, real power remained in the hands of the emperor and his chancellor.

Reichstag

The lower house of the two-house legislature in the constitution drafted by Bismarck which were elected by universal male suffrage. Still, the new German nation was far from democratic. Because the Bundesrat could veto any decisions of the them, real power remained in the hands of the emperor and his chancellor.

Kulturkampf

Battle for civilization released by Bismarck in response to Catholic threat. It lasted from 1871-1878. His goal was to make Catholics put loyalty to the state above allegiance to the Church. The chancellor had laws such as expelling Jesuits. Bismarck's moves against the Catholic Church backfired. The faithful rallied behind the Church, and the Catholic Center party gained strength in the Reichstag. A realist, Bismarck saw his mistake and worked to make peace with the Church.

Catholic Center Party

Political party in Reichstag that gained strength through the faithful rally behind the Church during Kulturkampf

Social Democratic Party

German party in the Reichstag which German Marxists had organized during the growing power of socialism, where people are supposed to own and operate the means of production. It called for parliamentary democracy and laws to improve conditions for the working class. Bismarck had laws passed to dissolve socialist groups, but once again, repression backfired, serving to unite workers to support the socialist cause

William II

German kaiser who asked Bismarck to resign in 1890, seriously believing in divine right. He resisted efforts to introduce democratic political reforms, but his government continued the idea of social welfare, cheap transportation, and electricity. He lavished funds on the German military machine and launched an ambitious campaign to expand the German navy and win an overseas empire to rival those of Britain and France. His nationalism and aggressive military stance helped increase tensions on the eve of World War I

Social Welfare

programs provided by the state for benefit of its citizes. These programs, designed to combat support for socialists, helped improve conditions not only for workers and the elderly, but also German society in general

1848

Frankfurt Assembly meeting. Liberals meeting in the Frankfurt Assembly again demanded German political unity. They offered the throne of a united German state to Frederick William IV of Prussia. The Prussian ruler, however, rejected the notion of a throne offered by "the people."

1862

Blood and iron speech delivered by Otto von Bismarck

1864

German-Danish War after Bismarck's first maneuver was to form an alliance with Austria, where Prussia and Austria seized both the provinces of Schleswig and Holstein from Denmark.

1866

Austro-Prussian War lasted just seven weeks and ended in a decisive Prussian victory after Bismarck invented an excuse to attack Austria. Prussia then annexed, or took control of, several other north German states.

January 1871

Second Reich and German unification. Once home to the French kings, Versailles seemed the perfect place to proclaim the new German empire after the Franco-Prussian War. French domination of Europe had ended, with Germany being the now dominant power. By the late 1800s, German chemical and electrical industries were setting the standard worldwide.

1890

Bismarck forced to resign by William II, seriously believed that his right to rule came from God