Obstacles To German Unification 1815-1850 Flashcards
When was the German confederation established and when did Germany unify?
Confederation established 1815 didn’t unify till 1871
What groups campaigned for unification during this period, without success?
Liberals, middle class, students and some peasants
What reforms did the middle class support and what reforms did the peasants support?
Middle class supported political reforms where as the peasants supported the social reforms
What was the other thing there was huge division over?
Germany should include Austria (Grossdeutschland) or not (kleindeutschland)
What does divisions amongst nationalists link to?
Link with ‘indifference of the masses’ as peasants were the majority group but many, for different reasons, took significant interest in politics
Is divisions amongst nationalists a main obstacles?
Lack of clear aims undermined any nationalist demands
Real nationalists interest came Friday m middle class - a minority group
How wasn’t divisions amongst nationalists a main obstacle?
Both groups were prepared to work together - as shown in 1848 revolutions
Many peasants also nationalists
Until when, was Austria a dominant political member of the bund?
Until 1848
What did Austria worry would be threatened due to a united Germany?
It would threaten its multi - ethnic empire
What does Austrian strength link to?
Obivious links with religious differences, economic differences and resentment towards Prussia
Numerous states - not just Austria - resented Prussia and unification
How was Austrian strength a main obstacle?
Austria able to block reforms as it had permanent chairmanship of the German confederation
Southern states had to support Austrian wishes due to need for military protection
Frankfurt parliament most successful when Austria was weakened by revolution
How wasn’t Austrian strength a main obstacle?
Opposition to unification was not simply confined to Austria - numerous smaller states also against due to fear over Prussian power
Even Prussians leader, Frederick William was opposed to many political reforms
How many states were in the confederation and what was the problem with this?
There were 39 states and each had their own leader (prince, monarch etc)
A United Germany would only have one leader
What did unification mean for most leaders?
Giving up there power
What does German princes link to?
Resentment towards Prussia due to belief that leader of a United Germany would be from Prussia and dominate the united country
Link with Austrian strength because if Austria wanted unification the smaller states/princes would’ve found it hard to stop them
How was German princes a main obstacle?
State leaders were unprepared to support unification of it would cost them power
State leaders continued to control their armies, giving them influence
How wasn’t German princes a main obstacle?
Apart from Austria and Prussia most state leaders were relatively powerless - if both had wanted unification it would’ve been difficult to stop them
Why did all German states change from being Catholic?
Due to the reformation
How were the religious differences largely split?
North/ south split - northern states ( led by Prussia) were Protestant and southern states ( led by Austria) were Catholic
What does religious differences link to?
Resentment towards Prussia as religion divided Austria/Prussia and a United Germany might have seen Prussia/Protestant dominance
How was religious differences a main obstacle?
Religion often see as a key feature of national identity - differences can undermine nationalism.
Catholic states feared Protestant power in a United Germany
How wasn’t religious differences a main obstacle?
Since 30 years in war in 1600s. Religious differences in German states were minimal
Prussia and Austria were rivals due to power - not religion
What did Prussias control of the Rhineland mean?
It had access to a range of natural resources ( coal, iron, etc) which helped grow its economy
What problems did Austria face
It had little access to natural resources meaning it was far less economically powerful than Prussia
What else helped Prussia economically dominate the confederation?
Prussia had control of the Zollverein from which Austria was excluded
What did economic differences link to?
Resentment towards Prussia as all the states - including Austria - resented growing Prussian dominance
How was economIc differences an obstacle?
Economic differences increased the gap between Austria and Prussia undermining unification
Smaller states also believed Prussia would have greater control of a United Germany
How wasn’t economic differences a main obstacle?
Economic differences were not the cause of the Austro-Prussian rivalry , they were simply another factor alongside religion, politics and military issues etc
Who made up the largest group in Germany?
Peasants
What were the peasants split across?
Rural and urban areas
Who was most likely to take an interest in politics?
Urban peasants
What does indifference of the masses link to?
Divisions amongst nationalists, as peasant s with political interest were divided between those believing in political change/unification and those whose priority was to see social change
How Was idifference of the masses a main obstacle?
Support of all peasants would have forced state leaders to listen - but this did not happen
Middle class that favoured nationalism were often the peasants employers, leading to a decide between the two groups
More education often encouraged political involvement - and peasants were least educated
How wasn’t indifference of the masses a main obstacle?
Most peasants did not actively oppose nationalism, even those who believed social change was the most important issue
Many peasants were involved in protests during 1848
Who politically controlled the bund?
Austria even tho Prussia was economically dominant
What did Prussia have control of?
The Zollverein as well as a strong military
What does resentment towards Prussia link to?
German princes’s as they believed it was most likely Prussia would lose power too in the event of a United Germany
Austrian divide with Prussia links to religious and economic differences
How was Resentment towards Prussia a main obstacle?
Austria did not want to see Prussia gain power, especially after Austrias exclusion from the Zollverein
Smaller states most commonly sided with Austria at the bund and Austria opposed unification
How wasn’t resentment towards Prussia a main obstacle?
France was still a worry for many German states and Prussia was main military opponent; smaller states needed Prussian help
Austria tried to replace the Zollverein with their own customs union - smaller states refused to join and backed Prussias Union
