Exam Notes on German Unification

Revolutions of 1848

  • Unsuccessful democratic nationalist uprisings throughout Europe.
  • Frankfurt Parliament:
    • Ignored by King Wilhelm I of Prussia.
    • Divided, lacking broad support, and unrepresentative.
    • Composed of educated middle class, but with no support from the working class.
    • Failed to achieve German unification.
  • King William IV (NOT William I) ignored protests for reform.
  • House of Hohenzollern faced opposition from Metternich and foreign powers.

Humiliation of Olmütz

  • Prussia's attempt to establish the Erfurt Union failed.
  • Austria re-established itself as the dominant power in the German Confederation.
  • Prussia supported Erfurt Union plans, but this led to Prussian defeat.
  • Forced to abandon Erfurt Union plans.
  • Restablished German Confederation.
  • Austria re-established as Dominant state.

Zollverein

  • German Customs Union excluding Austria.
  • Boosted the Prussian economy, while Austria fell behind.
  • Encouraged competition between Prussia and Austria.

Desire for Unification

  • Driven by a strong sense of German nationalism fostered during the Napoleonic Wars.
  • However, Prussia primarily cared about its own interests (Realpolitik).

Congress of Vienna

  • Established a loose association of 39 German states (German Confederation) after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire.

Metternich System

  • Klemens Von Metternich repressed revolutionary movements.
  • Conservative and aimed to maintain the balance of power.
  • Wanted the State.

Wilhelm I

  • King of Prussia who later became the first German Emperor.
  • Initially ignored the Frankfurt Parliament's call for unification.

Realpolitik

  • Practical politics based on interests and power rather than ideology or morality.
  • Employed by Bismarck to achieve Prussian and German goals.

Otto von Bismarck

  • Appointed Minister President of Prussia in 1862.
  • Junker/conservative.
  • The "Iron Chancellor" who cared only for Prussian power.
  • Manipulative and willing to use any means to achieve his aims.
  • Famous for his "blood and iron" policy: achieving unification through military force.

Events Leading to Unification

  • 1862: Bismarck becomes Prime Minister of Prussia.
  • Danish War (1864):
    • Prussia and Austria allied against Denmark.
    • Denmark lost Schleswig, Holstein, and Lauenburg.
    • Austria got Holstein.
    • Prussia got Schleswig.
  • Austro-Prussian War (1866):
    • Bismarck went against Austria later.
    • Prussia supported.
    • Prussian victory, leading to the dissolution of the German Confederation.
    • Treaty of Prague excluded Austria from German affairs.
    • Prussia annexed northern German states that did not support it (Hanover, Saxony, etc.).
  • Hohenzollern Candidature:
    • Prussia wants to put Prussian King on Spanish throne.
    • Hohenzollern Candidature made Spain an ally to France.
  • Ems Telegram (1870):
    • Bismarck edited the telegram to provoke France into war.
  • Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871):
    • Ems telegram gained support from North German Confederation GE southern States.
    • Led to German unification.
    • Defeat of France at the Battle of Sedan.

Government Structure

  • Landtag: The Prussian parliament.
    • Voting system favored property owners.
  • Herrenhaus: Upper house of the Prussian parliament.
  • Suppressed Press freedom and public Meetings.
  • King retained Power.

Key Outcomes

  • Solidified Northern German States under Prussian control.
  • German Unification achieved under Prussian leadership.
  • Replaced Holy + Roman Empire with German Confederation.