Causes of the German 1848 Revolutions

Question 1

Social

Answer 1

• Rise in population without sufficient EG to provide for it –> Poverty (24 million - 35 million
• Feudalism (BAD) –> Though some areas had seen reforms in agriculture
• Traditional production methods under threat from early industralisation –> Increase in anxiety
• New factories –> Bad working conditions –> Urban overcrowding (Average working day = 12-16 Hours) + Average wage for worker varied from 15-19 cents per day

Question 2

Economic?

Answer 2

• Zollverein –> Laid foundation for German Unification
• 26 Million people in 17 different states
• ZV made economic treaties in Holland (‘31), GB (‘44) + Belgium (‘44)
• Report on the ZV ‘ first step towards Germanisation’
• Almost acted as a nation + worked together in an annual assembly
• Increase in Economic intergration –> Between 1834 and 1840, the volume of trade within the Zollverein increased from 50 million to 115 million Thalers.
• In 1838, the Zollverein introduced the Prussian Thaler as a common currency in member states.

Question 3

Perspectives on Economics?

Answer 3

• Helmut Bohe –> Zollverein major step towards politically unified Germany
• James Sheehan –> It was in the economic interests of others to have internal free trade, not the same as accepting Prussia’s economic leadership
• Austrian Prussian War 1866 (Most ZV partners sided with Aus) –> The union was primarily a revenue raising scheme for Government

Question 4

Nationalism?

Answer 4

• Friedrich Jahn - Teacher + writer –> hoped for youthful national resistance –> Created the German Gymnastics club in ‘31
• Jahn raised 30 k troops in Frei corps as part of rebelling against the gov
• Oct 1817 - Burschenschaften student festival at Wartburg near Eisenhahn
• 1819 - Karl Sand killed conservative August von Kotzebue somewhat controversial playwright, who wrote 200 plays mocking Ger Nationalists
• 1832- 25k Nationalists marched to the Hambach Castle
• Subterrenean Nationalism –> 1847 (85 k Gym club members)
• 100 k members in singing clubs

Question 5

Perspectives on Nationalism?

Answer 5

• So many criticisms (ez dubz)
• Nationalism largely powerless against Metternich’s policies, he remained in control of Bundestag
• Austrian Prussian rivalry (heating up hella quick!!!!!)