Factors helping Bismarck

Question 1

Prussian army

Answer 1

German unification was the immediate result of 3 short wars: Denmark, Austria, and France.

• effective and well trained troops kept wars short – lower costs, lower social disruptions, low risk of escalation, maintained army morale, maintained popular support
• talented military leaders: War minister Roon and General von Moltke
• thoroughly planned military operations
• utilised railways and telegraphs to improve efficiency

Question 2

Prussian economic success

Answer 2

• by 1860s, stronger economy than opponents Austria or France: able to war consecutively, and could have sustained longer war if needed
• more extensive railway network

Question 3

Economic unity

Answer 3

• by 1864, Zollverein included every German state except for Austria

Question 4

German nationalism

Answer 4

• September 1859: German National Association formed – encouraged by the success of Italian nationalism (1859 Second Italian War of Independence)
• liberals realised that unity could only be achieved with power: only Prussia seemed to have the power
• many members of the Associated were influential men

Question 5

Weakness of Austria

Answer 5

• largely agricultural economy
• minority nationalism within their empire
• financially strained
• weakened diplomatic position from the Crimean War (1854): Austria felt threatened by the Russian troops, when UK and France demanded the withdrawal of Russian forces, Austria supported them and refused to guarantee its neutrality.
• Defeat in North Italian War (1859): significantly reduced Austrian prestige
• Austrian leaders lacked political and diplomatic skills

Question 6

International situation

Answer 6

• by 1862, Prussia generally regarded as a second-rate power
• predominantly Protestant Britain did not view Protestant Prussia as an enemy
• a strong Prussia, or even a strong Prussian-led Germany served as a counterweight to France and Russia for Britain
• Russia was busy with their reforms at home: Alexander II’s reign, 1861 reform of the serfs
• Russian sympathies lay with Prussia, not forgiven Austria for it’s Crimean War policy