1. German Unification
February 4rd, 2011

4. Obstacles to Unification: Frankfurt Assembly Congress of Vienna

5. 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

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

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

8. “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 but by iron and blood”

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

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

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

13. 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

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

15. 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

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

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

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

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

20. 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

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

23. 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

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

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

27. France loses the Battle of Sedan & the Franco Prussian War

28. 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

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

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

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