1. Growth of German Nationalism
Political Factors
1. The 1848 Revolution

2. 1. The 1848 Revolution
16. Revolutions engulfed Europe, including the states of the Deutscher Bund. Reasons:
Harvest failures : Potato famine
1847 wheat prices x2
1848 cholera epidemics
Industrial depression
Lack of response to crises by undemocratic governments (the autocracies)

3. 1. The 1848 Revolution
17. Metternich unable to keep control so he fled to Britain.
revolutions break out in Vienna, North Italy, Hungary and Prague
18. Austrians could not influence the affairs of Bund states. This affects German nationalism because:
without control of Austria, nationalist revolutionaries could now demand democratic reforms and unification

4. 1. The 1848 Revolution 19. Berlin (Prussia) 1848 (McKichan p 36 – 38)
Demonstrations and street fighting outside the royal palace rioters killed by government soldiers.
Bodies of the dead and wounded were paraded in front of King Frederick William IV (King of Prussia).
KFW IV deeply saddened by deaths and announces his support and leadership for liberty and a unified Germany.
Read his proclamation, p38: McKichan
A new Parliament of the German people was to meet in Frankfurt, May 1848.

5. The 1848 Revolution 20. The nature of the Frankfurt Assembly
Elected members were middle class, well educated.
Most were liberals and nationalists
Wanted
a united Germany with a monarch as Head of State.
A parliament elected by middle class /well educated ie. People like themselves.

6. The 1848 Revolution 20 ctd: The purpose of the Frankfurt Assembly
Decide on the future for Germany
Klein or Grossdeutschland
Monarchy or democracy
Draw up a constitution for a united Germany

7. The 1848 Revolution 21. Issues the Assembly disagreed over
If KD or GD who would be offered the crown? Austria or Prussia or who?
Workers who were in Assembly (Minority) called for a republic to protect them against exploitation by their bosses.
The business owners (the middle class members) were the bosses who claimed workers demands were too much and would destroy business.

8. The 1848 Revolution 22. Collapse and dissolution of Frankfurt Assembly
1848 into 1849 revolutions die down
Austrians regain control over its own territories by March 1849
No chance Austrians wanted to be part of a united and liberal Germany.
So, now the Frankfurt Assembly offer the crown of a KleinD to FWIV.
FW IV has restored power in Prussia as well
Changes his mind about leading a united and liberal Germany
He refuses to accept the crown! (McKichan p 39)
Other monarchs ignore the FA constitution and withdraw their states.
FA dissolved.

9. The 1848 Revolution
23. Why did political nationalism fail to unite Germany in 1848/49? (ref: McKichan p 39+40)
Revolutions relatively ineffective – no sweeping changes made
Monarchs not overthrown
Armies remained loyal to monarchs – especially in Prussia
Reforms granted by monarchs were easily reversed.
FW IV refused the crown of united Germany.
KleinD decision disgruntled Austria
Frankfurt Assembly took too long to make decisions about issues they disagreed on.
Lack of clarity, purpose and strong leadership among nationalists and liberals
Lack of power from below to unify.

10. Possibility for unification from above.
The Erfurt Union
Possibility for unification from above.
The League of the Three Kings
KW IV still interested in Unification but on his terms. Ie not to be controlled by his subjects.
Invites rulers of Saxony and Hanover to form a federation of states with an army and foreign policy controlled by Prussia.
Other states join and meet at Erfurt (Saxony) March This makes up the Erfurt Union.

11. The Erfurt Union
25.
Erfurt Union not very strong as other German states were suspicious of Prussian motives and scared of Austrian reaction if they joined.
By 1850 Austria had a new, strong Chancellor, Prince Schwarzenberg. Austria recovering fast after revolutions.

12. The Erfurt Union
26. Austria crushes the Erfurt Union and restores the power of the Bund:
Schwarzenburg objects to plan of Erfurt Union plan to have KleinD.
Persuades majority of German states to meet at Frankfurt to plan restoration of pre 1848 confederation (Bund). Prussia does not attend.
Old Bund arrangement agreed.
Test case: Hesse Cassel asks for military help from Bund to put down a minor rebellion. Bund helps. But HC is ally of Prussia and Austrian troops sent in to help HC.
Prussia could have declared war on Austria but doesn’t as it is not ready for war and fears power of Austria in alliance with Russia.
Nov 1850, Treaty of Olmutz. Meeting of Austria and Prussia. Prussia is forced to abandon the Erfurt Union.
This a humiliating defeat for Prussia. Shows Austria politically stronger than Prussia.