German Unification

German Unification

Historical Context

• The German unification process was a fundamental political development between 1848 and 1914.

• The Single most _________________ political development between 1848 and 1914.

• Major shifts in power dynamics occurred in Europe during this period.

The German Confederation

• What “ruled” the German areas from 962-1806?

• Who officially abolished the HRE in 1806?

• The German _________________ replaced the HRE in 1815. How many German-speaking areas were inside this confederation?

What is a confederation?

• Formation from 1815-1866 as a loose association of German states.

• Included both northern and southern German territories, significant for trade and military organization.

Political Developments

• Austrian dominance was established at the Congress of Vienna, asserting Austria as the principal German state. Why?

• ____________ played a crucial role in shaping the policies leading to unification.

  Models for Unification

  _______ _____________ (Grossdeutschland)

  • Advocates for a unification that included all German-speaking peoples, potentially under Austrian influence.

  ________ _____________ (Kleindeutschland)

  • Focused on unification under Prussian leadership, excluding Austria, which ultimately became the accepted model.

  Economic Unification through Zollverein

  What was the Zollverin again?

  • Economic union initiated by the Zollverein (customs union) in 1834, fostering trade and economic cooperation among German states.

  • _________________ Union, not a ________________ Union.

Revolutionary Movements

• The Revolutions of 1848 were led by nationalists and liberals seeking a unified Germany.

• The Frankfurt Parliament was the German area’s first attempt to _____________

• What does the Pan-German parliament mean?

• The Frankfurt Parliament drafted a _______________ for a united Germany.

• The Frankfurt Parliament convened to draft a constitution aiming for a unified state but failed when Frederick William IV of Prussia ______________ the crown. Why did he reject it?

• Why were the Frankfurt Parliament and Revolutions of 1848, in general, a failure?

Bismarck’s Leadership and Policies

• Who did Frederick William IV appoint as his prime minister?

• What is his Goal:

• What is Bismark at heart? What does this mean?

• What is Realpolitik?

Bismarck’s Domestic Policies

• What does Domestic mean?

• What does Bismarck do/say about the socialist party?

• Why did the Socialists not/care, or still support, Bismarck?

• Give three examples of socialist policies that Bismarck put into place:

• Why would liberals probably not care for Bismarck?

• How did Bismarck use realpolitik in two ways to get Liberals on his side?

Foreign Policy: Military Conflicts as Catalysts for Unification

What did Bismark mean by blood and iron? What does Foreign policy mean?

WARS OF GERMAN UNIFICATION

Schleswig Wars: Goal: Established German dominance over German-____________ territories

Austro-Prussian War: Goal: Established Prussia as _______________ German state

Franco-Prussian War: Goal: ______________ Northern and Southern Germany

Schleswig War (1864)

• Prussia & Austria vs. _______________

• What was Prussia & Austria’s reason for waging war against Denmark?

• How did Prussia and Austria split up the area of Denmark they won? Why is this a genius move by Bismarck?

• Prussia ______________ several smaller German states. What does Annex mean?

Austro-Prussian War (1866)

• Why is this war only a 7-week conflict?

• When Germany did unify, would it include or exclude Austria?

• Prelude to the unification, resulting in Prussian dominance over German territories.

Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)

• Why did Southern Germany resist Prussian and Bismarck's influence?

• By waging a war against France, what did Bismarck give all German-speaking peoples? Why was this a genius move?

• This was a war to ______________ Germany. ]

• Why was this yet another easy win for Prussia?

• Where does Bismarck proclaim the German Empire? How would France feel about that?

• What are two more reasons that Germany makes France mad?

• Sparked by Bismarck's manipulations leading to a war against France, aimed at rallying the German states around Prussia.

• Following victory, the German Empire was proclaimed in 1871, establishing a unified Germany under Prussian dominance.

Outcomes of Unification

• The establishment of the German Empire represented both the culmination of decades of nationalist aspirations and the beginning of new tensions in Europe.

• Included the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine, which had significant cultural and political implications moving forward.