1525–Present Flashcards
Reformation, Division & Unification
What event sparked the Protestant Reformation?
Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in 1517.
What was the Peasants’ War (1524–1525)?
A massive uprising inspired by Reformation ideas, brutally suppressed.
How did Luther respond to the Peasants’ War?
He sided with the princes, condemning the revolt.
What was the Peace of Augsburg (1555)?
Allowed each German ruler to choose Catholicism or Lutheranism for their state.
What was the long-term effect of the Reformation on Germany?
Religious fragmentation and weakening of central authority.
What was the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648)?
A devastating conflict across Germany sparked by Protestant-Catholic tensions.
What treaty ended the Thirty Years’ War?
The Peace of Westphalia (1648).
What did the Peace of Westphalia establish?
State sovereignty—princes could set religion, foreign powers could not intervene.
What was Germany like after 1648?
Fragmented into 300+ states, with no true unity.
What two powers emerged after Westphalia?
Austria (Catholic, Habsburg) and Prussia (Protestant, militarized).
What was the role of Prussia under Frederick the Great?
Built a centralized, efficient state with a powerful army and Enlightenment ideals.
How did Napoleon affect German territory?
Abolished the Holy Roman Empire (1806) and reorganized the states.
What replaced the Holy Roman Empire in 1815?
The German Confederation.
Who led the unification of Germany in 1871?
Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor of Prussia.
What wars paved the way for unification?
- Wars against Denmark (1864)
- Austria (1866)
- France (1870–71)
When was the German Empire proclaimed?
1871, in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
What political system did the German Empire adopt?
A federal monarchy under Prussian dominance.
What role did Catholic south Germany play in the Empire?
Subordinated to Protestant Prussia, but remained culturally distinct.
What happened to Germany after World War I?
The monarchy fell; the Weimar Republic was formed (1919).
What weaknesses plagued the Weimar Republic?
- Political fragmentation
- Economic crisis
- Lack of popular legitimacy
When did Hitler come to power?
1933, as Chancellor; became dictator after the Reichstag Fire.
What was Hitler’s vision of Germany?
A racial empire (Third Reich) based on Aryan supremacy and total control.
What happened to Germany after World War II?
It was divided into East (Soviet) and West (Allied) zones.
What was West Germany’s official name?
The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).
What was East Germany’s official name?
The German Democratic Republic (GDR).
What symbolized Germany’s Cold War division?
The Berlin Wall (1961–1989).
When was Germany reunified?
1990, after the fall of the Berlin Wall and collapse of East Germany.
What challenges faced reunified Germany?
- Economic imbalance
- Cultural division
- Integration of the East
What political stance has postwar Germany adopted?
Deep aversion to nationalism; strong commitment to the EU and liberal democracy.
What does the book argue about Germany’s future?
It must reconcile its history, preserve European unity, and guard against extremism.
