-To
have an independent, united country you need: shared land, culture & history,
common language, uniform laws
Prussia
as Leader
NB
tried to prevent Prussia from becoming a military threat:
seized lands, formed
new states from them and let his relatives rule them
limited size of
military
large indemnity
forced to support an
occupation army within its territory
contribute soliders
to French army
Prussia
worked around & benefited from restrictions:
short army terms w/
intensive military training�reserves
ready to be called into action
the Holy Roman
Emperor had been Austrian (Prussia�s strongest rival)�gave
Austria claim over German states, NB abolished Holy Roman Empire &
consolidated many states into Confederation of Rhine
NB inspired
nationalism�Germans
favored Prussia (population mostly German) over Austria (Germans ruled
but did not hold the majority)
fought at Waterloo
against NB�earned right to be represented at Congress of
Vienna & join Quadruple Alliance
Congress of Vienna turned COR into German Confed. w/ additional members
including Prussia, gave Prussia much important territory
(Fredrick the Great of Prussia was a big fan of France but then there was a
spurt of intelligence & ppl started reading and writing German & spread of
education �
growing awareness of own culture)
The
Zollverein
Each state had its own tariffs� trade difficult, increased prices, less sold
Junkers: aristocratic landowners of Prussia who wanted to
sell their farm products; persuaded Prussian king to abolish tariffs within
territories; they were the driving force behind---
Zollverein: customs union, 1844-included all German states
except Austria; regulated prices, promoted spread of industrialization (free
market for German goods, tariff protection against foreign competition)
States adopted uniform systems of weights, measurements & currency
Business leaders became strong supporters of German unification
Made states economically dependent on each other�
paved way for political unity
Strong nationalistic & democratic mov�ts (National Assembly in Frankfurt)
but demands for representative gov�t failed
(Liberalism�Carlsbad Decrees)
Bismark
and Prussian Strength
�King William I of Prussia appointed Otto von
Bismark (conservative Junker politician; Machiavellian) to head cabinet
(�iron & blood�)
�Bismark: opposed democracy, idealism &
parliament, believed in Prussian destiny to unify German people (willing to use
wtvr means necessary)
�Had full cooperation of king and army generals
(agreed w/ him on necessity of reorganizing & strengthening army)
�Gov�t had to increase taxes for this
�Parliament refused to approve money for military
expansion, but Bismark collected taxes w/o authorization, ignored protests of
liberals 7 hoped to quiet critics w/ military victories
Unification Through War
Two
obstacles to increasing power & size of Prussia: Austria has position of
leadership in GC & and has influence over southern German states
War
Reason Fought
Fighting
Treaty/Results
The Danish War
King Christian of Denmark tried to annex state of Schleswig; Prussia &
Austria protested & declared war
Denmark had hoped for French or British support, after 3 months
surrendered
Gave Schleswig & Holstein to Austria & Prussia jointly but disagreed
(Austria wanted the two duchies to form one state)�Prussia
administered S, Austria H
The Seven Weeks� War
Bismarck wanted to drive Austria out of GC
Bismarck promised France some southern German states if would
remain neutral (France put agreement in writing, clever Bismarck did
not)
Allied Italy w/ him (promised them Venetia); Prussia used modern
technology (train, telegraph) & defeated Austria in seven weeks
Treaty of Prague: Austria approved dissolution of GC, surrendered
Holstein to Prussia; Italians got Venetia;
Afterwards: northern states unite (North German Confed.)-self gov�t but
hereditary president; Prussia dominated legislature
The Franco-Prussian War
Bismarch decided way to unite south w/ Confed was to provoke war w/
France; Spain offered throne to Prince Leopold (cousin of Prussian king)�Napoleon
III against this because then Prussia & Spain would be ruled by
Hohenzollern family, dispatched notes to P & S�Leopold withdrew but N asked William of P to pledge no
member of Hohenzollern family would be candidate for Spanish throne�
� King answered ambassador vaguely, Bismarck altered
dispatch to make it sound as if King had offended ambassador, published
this�
France humiliated, declared war on Prussia; Bismarck showed leaders of
Southern German states document in which N III declared their territory
for France�they
become B�s allies; no one helped France, defeated in a few months
France
occupied by German troops, lost Alsace & part of Lorraine, huge
indemnity
Formation of the German Empire
1871-official proclamation declared formation of German Empire, including
all G states except Austria (capital is Berlin); William�emperor, Bismarck�chancellor
(�Iron Chan.�) (this happened at palace of Versailles, France)
Bismark accepted constitution that united 25 states in federal form of gov�t
(but wasn�t happy cuz hated constitutions and compromises)
States have own ruler, right to handle domestic matters
Federal gov�t controlled national defense, foreign affairs, commerce
Structure:
Kaiser-emperor, not
absolute but tremendous power; appoint chancellor, command navy & army;
could declare defensive war own his own, declare offensive war w/
agreement of upper house of legislature
Bundesrat- upper
house, federal council, 58 appointed members; drew up bills for
Reichstag�s consideration, could veto its actions; together w/ Kaiser,
could dismiss Reichstag (impossible for Reichstag to pass liberal,
democratic laws that K or B opposed), had more power
Reichstag- lower,
legislative assembly, 400 members elected y universal manhood suffrage
This constitution favored Prussian interests: king of Prussia�Kaiser
of Germany; P had greatest number of delegates in the Bundesrat & Reichstag
Discontent: 1) favored liberalism & democracy, wanted social reforms, 2)
feared Bismarck�s military policy & growing military 3)religious barriers
Southern German states resented interference of federal gov�t in their
affairs
Bismarck saw pope�s claim of the right to administer church property as
foreign interference & a threat-southern German states mostly Catholic
(but Germany was Protestant)
1872- Germany & papacy broke diplomatic relations
Anti-Catholic Kulturkampf: (�war of civ.�)- strict laws to control
Catholic clergy & schools; expelled Jesuits; Catholic clergy had to be
Germans educated in G schools
Catholics formed opposing party�Bismarck
needed their support so modified the Kulturkampf, reestablished relations w/
papacy & repealed laws against Catholics
Industrial Development Under Bismarck
4
Factors of Industrialism: land, management, capital, labor
Bismarck wanted to transform Prussia into industrial giant
Rich store of natural resources (coal + iron= steel)
German gov�t owned railroads�managed
them to promote industrial dvlpmt
System of canals provided cheap but slow transportation
German industrialization came later than GB & France�could
use most advanced methods & machinery dvlpd elsewhere, w/ improvements
Gov�t helped industry: standardized money & banking laws throughout empire;
centralized postal & telegraph services; encouraged German industrialists to
form cartels (union); adopted high tariff policy
Socialism in Germany
Some believed actions of cartels led to lower wages and higher prices,
wanted gov�t action
Socialist reformers advocated gov�t ownership of all major industries
Social Democratic Party- most members city workers, representation in
Reichstag grew but Reichstag powerless to pass laws Bundesrat opposed
Reichstag was still good public forum
Bismarck�s Antisocialist Campaign
Growing socialist support alarmed Bismarck
Two
attempts to assassinate him in 1878, had no ties to socialism but he still
blamed it on them
Emperor & Bundesrat dissolved Reichstag & called for new elections
New
laws prohibited newspapers, books, pamphlets, public meetings from spreading
socialist ideas
Social Democratic representation still increased�Bismarck�s new policy-�stealing the socialists�
thunder�
Reforms according to new policy: insurance against sickness & accidents paid
for by employers, limited working hours, holidays from work, pensions for
disabled & retired
These reforms did not wipe out socialism but eliminated many workers�
grievances
The
Resignation of Bismarck
William I died, succeeded by son Fredrick III who also died, succeeded by
son William II
William & Bismarck disagreed: William felt Bismarck had too much power,
Bismarck resented this, felt William was too rash & undisciplined
1890- William forced Bismarck to resign
William II seeks to expand Germany�s colonial empire�increased strength 7 size of military�brought
them into competition w/ GB
