German unification Flashcards
Factors
*Prussian military strength
*Prussian economic power
*Decline of Austria
*Otto Von Bismark
Background
*During the first half of the nineteenth century, political, economic and cultural conditions favourable to German unity gradually developed.
*The foundations for German unity were established during the years 1815-1851, but actual unification was not achieved in this period. German unity was established in 1871 by the Prussian Chancellor Otto Von Bismark.
Line of Argument
Otto Bon Bismark was the most important reason.
Prussian military strength (1)
*(K) Mottke and Room created a modern powerful army by increasing conscription to three years and introducing new technology (breech loading guns, better communications, etc)
*(A) The role of the Prussian army was pivotal in defeatin g Denmark, Austria and France, and Bismark used these ‘wars of unification’ to bring about a united Germany.
*(A+) Mottke and Roon, not Bismark, were the Prussian military leaders, and without Mottke’s planning and battle tactics, Prussia would not have succeeded in the wars of unification.
Prussian military strength (2)
*(K) The strength of the Prussian economy played a large part in the Prussian army becoming the most powerful in Europe. They were able to mobilise at speed due to improved railways which gave them an advantage, especially against Austria. This improved infrastructure had been put in place by Prussia to more efficiently transport raw materials and goods between its territories.
*(A) This gave their military a significant advantage over their enemies and had been facilitated in no small part by Bismark’s ability to ensure the army budget was kept high due to the wealth of their economy post-1862.
Prussian military strength (E)
Important to a large extent after the decisive defeat of the French the German Republic was declared and Willaim I, King of Prussia, was proclaimed German Emporer at the Palace of Versailles, officially uniting Germany. Bismarck was more important as he used diplomacy and manipulated his enemies to orchestrate these wars at the right time for unification to occur.
Prussian economic strength (1)
*(K) Prussia’s economic growth from 1850-70 saw the development of railways and roads to improve transport between states. Prussia’s territories of the Rhineland and the Saarland were on the other side of the German states from Prussia but were very important. Steel and coal production increased significantly and beat Frances by 30%
*(A) This revenue could be used to finance and equip the Prussian army as well as hold Prussia in a powerful position among the states.
Prussian economic strength (2)
*(K) The Zollverein, was the Prussian-dominated free-trade area created within the German states which excluded Prussia’s biggest competitor, Austria
*(A) Often given credit as the ‘mighty lever’ of unification, as 25 of the 39 states were members by the 1830s, many even putting aside their own sovereign powers to benefit economically from the free trade union.
*(A+) Some smaller states felt isolated by Prussia’s economic strength and dominance and feared that unification would not benefit them as much.
Prussian economic strength (E)
Important to a moderate extent, while Prussia and other German states’ economies were flourishing, Austria’s economy stagnated due to a lack of raw materials causing them to fall behind industrially.. This resulted in Prussia being the likely leader of a united Germany. Bismarck had set out to put Prussia in the position of ultimate power at the head of the German states and so is the main reason for unification.
The decline of Austria
*(K) The Austro-Prussian war of 1866 was ended by the Treaty of Prague in August of that same year. The treaty created a North German Confederation of States under Prussian control, excluding Austria
*(A) A bold step towards unification as nationalistic feelings grew under Prussia’s might, with a large number of states in the north effectively under Prussian rule. Prussian superiority over Austria was secured.
*(A+) Under the Treaty, Bismarck was deliberately lenient on Austria, to allow for his plan to completely unify the German states when the time was right.
The decline of Austria (E)
Important to a moderate extent. Under the treaty of Prague, Austria was even willing to agree, along with the other southern German states, to assist Prussia in the event of a French war. This was significant in the defeat of France in the war which followed in which all German states came together to fight France. This decline was deliberately orchestrated by Bismarck, as his aim was a united Germany under Prussian rule, a vision which he achieved.
Otto Von Bismarck(1)
*(K) Bismarck aimed to increase Prussia’s power however possible and at the expense of Austria as the next strongest German state. He took the initiative to instigate war with Denmark and manipulated events to lead to a war with Austria
*(A) One of these two influential states had to be established as more powerful for a united Germany to be achieved, this was Bismarck’s initial attempt to belittle Austria in the nationalist’s eyes.
Otto Von Bismark (2)
*(K) Bismarck’s ‘realpolitik’ attitude towards diplomacy in the three wars ultimately brought unification. He used Denmark to cause a war with and isolate Austria. He understood the need to wait for the right time to go to war with France, but opposition arose over the Spanish candidature.
*(A) The defeat of France was the opportunity to unite the northern Confederate states with the southern German states.
*(A+) Despite Bismarck orchestrating war with France over the Ems telegram, he did not plan this. The Spanish candidature was an opportunity Bismark exploited rather than something he orchestrated from the start.
Otto Von Bismarck (E)
The most important, Bismarck’s skill of isolating his targets, like Prussia’s alliance with Italy before the Austro-Presian War and his manipulation of Napoleon III secured the defeats of his targets on his route for unification. The diplomacy and leadership of Bismark ultimately coordinated unification.
