German Unification February 4rd, 2011

Obstacles to Unification: Frankfurt Assembly Congress of Vienna

Failures of the 1848 Frankfurt Assembly Revolts around Berlin force Frederick William IV to establish a Prussian Constituent Assembly Constitution Attempt to unify German states under liberalism These liberal establishments are weak & ignored The Assembly dissolved in 1849 Constitution becomes conservative

Congress of Vienna Established 39 German States governed by princes but dominated by what 2 powers? Prussia Austria

Otto Von Bismarck Prime Minister of Prussia Served Prussian King Wilhelm I

“Prussia must collect its forces for the favorable occasion, which has several times been neglected; Prussia's borders are not favorable to a healthy national life. Not by speeches & decisions of majorities will the greatest problems of the time be decided - that was the mistake of 1848-49 - but by iron and blood”

Revered Power & Action…NOT ideas Will mastermind all of the details that will unify Germany REAL POLITIK!

Against liberalism, democracy & parliaments Believed in industrialization, strong armies & constitutions that allowed for a strong monarch

German Unification: 2 Plans Grossdeutsch German unification w/ Austria Humiliation of Olmutz Kleindeutsch German unification w/o Austria Bismark supports this

Danish War 1864 Schleswig & Holstein – 2 territories of Germans & Danes. Denmark wanted these 2 territories. Prussia, along w/ Austria easily defeats Denmark Convention of Gastein – Austria gets Holstein & Prussia gets Schleswig

Bismark’s Diplomacy Desiring a war against Austria, Bismarck isolates Austria by arranging:

Aid to Russia in 1863 to put down a Polish revolt French neutrality if an Austrian-Prussia war breaks out 1866 Promised that Italy could take Venetia if they attacked Austria when the war breaks out

Austro-Prussian War or 7 Weeks War 1866 Using Schleswig & Holstein, Bismarck provokes Austria into a war Prussia defeats Austria

Treaty of Prague ends the war Austria loses Venetia which goes to France & then Italy (Italian forces were destroyed by Austrian forces)

Hapsburgs had no more say in German affairs This was a relatively generous treatment of Austria

The North German Confederation German territories north of the Main River Now controlled by Prussia (Bismarck is the chancellor)

Bicameral Legislature Bundersrat – Federal council Reichstag – Elected by universal male suffrage Reichstag was just for show; had very little real power-> Germany was a military monarchy

The Franco Prussian War A military coup in Spain removes the corrupt Bourbon Queen Isabella II from power

As a replacement, Spain chooses Prince Leopold a Hohenzollern & cousin of Wilhelm I of Prussia Leopold does not take the throne fearing a war between France & Prussia. France is relieved but Bismarck is disappointed

Bismark alters the Ems telegram from William I to France so that it comes off as insulting France declares war on July 19th, 1870

Southern German territories fight w/ the North German Confederation & they force France to surrender on Jan 28, 1871

France loses the Battle of Sedan & the Franco Prussian War

Germany Unifies 1871 The success of Bismarck & the bringing together of the northern & southern German territories (in the Franco-Prussian War) finally leads to The establishment of the German Empire at the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles

Triumph of conservatism (monarchy) over liberalism Nationalism Germany gets Alsace & part of Lorraine

William I is proclaimed Emperor of Germany This was the 2nd Reich 1st Reich was the HRE

Relative to the terms of the war with Austria (Austria gave up Venetia), Prussia was very harsh to France (Alsace-Lorraine & Reparation payments)