German Nationalism Flashcards
What was the Bund?
This was when the German States joined a German confederation (called the bund).
This aimed to :protect its members.
Give Germany a stronger voice in Europe.
It had a parliament called the Diet- however this did not achieve much as : votes has to be unanimous, political decisions meant that this was hard to achieve.
Describe Cultural Nationalism.
Cultural nationalism was: all 39 states speaking the same language and sharing similar customs.
〰All having a common culture, sharing same taste in literature and music.
〰 German identity. Writers such as Hegel, Geothe, Schiller recognised common German characterisitcs, things they felt identified a person as German.
Describe Military Necessity in terms of nationalism.
After Napoleon had Conquered German States in 1805, the 35 German States realised they were very small and politically divided which made them very vulnerable to other attacking countries.
〰German princes stirred up nationalist feeling in German people to help raise armies to drive out Napoleons armies
〰 the lessons learned by being defeated by Napoleon, and the strong nationalist feeling created to drive him out, helped to strengthen the sense of a common German identity with common goals
Describe Economic Nationalism in terms of nationalism.
Industrialisation was gaining pace in Germany.
〰businessmen wanted to increase the markets available for their goods to maximise profits. Existing trade was between the 39 states and expanding this was hankered by trade barriers. Single Germany without any taxes or trade barriers would help trade and increase prosperity.
〰 1818 Prussia, largest most powerful German States scraped trade barriers and tariff in its territories.
〰1819 offered economic alliance (Zollverein) with similar trade allowance and rates to other German States.
〰 1836,25 other be bra states had joined the alliance.
〰 Prussia developed its road and rail networks to maximise trade opportunities.
〰 this economic cooperation was so successful that it made people think of a political union.
Name one opponent to nationalism and describe their affects.
Austria
〰Austrian empire was extremely powerful in Europe.it was competing politically and economically with the 39 German States.
〰German nationalism might lead to unification of the states which would make them stronger and more of a threat to Austria.
〰also 20% of people in Austrian empire were German. They feared that nationalism might make them want to leave and join Germany. This would make Austria weaker and make other groups in the empire demand their own independence.
Name another opponent to nationalism and describe their affect.
〰many princes feared that if the German States were unified they would lose their power and influence over their own territories.
〰if the German States were unified there could only be one person in charge. Prussia as the dominant state would be the prime candidate.
Name another opponent to German nationalism and describe their affect.
〰France and Russia
〰these co tires feared that a strong, United Germany would be a political, economic and military rival to them.
Identify an allies to German nationalism and describe their affect.
〰educated middle class were an allies to German nationalism.
〰people such as doctors, lawyers and businessmen who helped make the German States prosperous.
〰they wanted freedom of speech and an elected parliament which would serve their interests.
〰they thought these ideals would be best realised and protected I a united Germany with a new constitution.
〰1859 these people formed a new party called the nationalverein. Later became the liberal party which campaigned for reforms such as parliamentary elections.What was seen as the best way of guaranteeing political freedom in Germany in the 1840’s
A unified Germany with popular elections and a constitution would be the best way.
Though by the reformers.
What did German monarchs such as Prussia’s King Frederick IV fear about German being United.
He feared that if Germany were to be united according to the demands of the nationalists they would lose power and influence in their territories.
What was the Prussian parliament
The Prussian parliament was when the king of Prussia ( who was against democracy and written constitution) in 1848 had to draft a Prussian constitution and to allow an elected parliament to meet and advise him.
〰he agreed to this after seeing increasing civil unrest on the streets if Prussia’s capital city Berlin.
Why was the Frankfurt parliament of 1848 created?
It was created to discuss reforms and attempt to draft a constitution for a unified Germany.
This was seen as the best way of stopping political unrest.
What was Germany like in 1815
Europe had just defeated by Napoleon.
There where 39 different states - each ruled by their own prince.
What where the terms of the parliament?
Completed in March 1849
〰 This would unite German States as a German empire headed by a German emperor.
〰 Government would be provided by an elected parliament that represented the population of all 39 states.
〰 This new German empire would replace the existing Bund.
〰 The crown was offered to Prussia’s King Frederick William IV.
Did the Frankfurt parliament fail or succeed and why?
The Frankfurt parliament failed. So to did the attempt to unify German pay through political reform.
〰 Frederick William refused the crown as it had not been offered by other German princes. Stating that he would not accept a crown from the gutter.
〰 By late 1849, the movement for political reform had lost its energy and movement and the German princes and Austrain emperor were able to regain control of their territories and politics.
