Obstacles To German Unification 1815-1850

Question 1

When was the German confederation established and when did Germany unify?

Answer 1

Confederation established 1815 didn’t unify till 1871

Question 2

What groups campaigned for unification during this period, without success?

Answer 2

Liberals, middle class, students and some peasants

Question 3

What reforms did the middle class support and what reforms did the peasants support?

Answer 3

Middle class supported political reforms where as the peasants supported the social reforms

Question 4

What was the other thing there was huge division over?

Answer 4

Germany should include Austria (Grossdeutschland) or not (kleindeutschland)

Question 5

What does divisions amongst nationalists link to?

Answer 5

Link with ‘indifference of the masses’ as peasants were the majority group but many, for different reasons, took significant interest in politics

Question 6

Is divisions amongst nationalists a main obstacles?

Answer 6

Lack of clear aims undermined any nationalist demands

Real nationalists interest came Friday m middle class - a minority group

Question 7

How wasn’t divisions amongst nationalists a main obstacle?

Answer 7

Both groups were prepared to work together - as shown in 1848 revolutions

Many peasants also nationalists

Question 8

Until when, was Austria a dominant political member of the bund?

Answer 8

Until 1848

Question 9

What did Austria worry would be threatened due to a united Germany?

Answer 9

It would threaten its multi - ethnic empire

Question 10

What does Austrian strength link to?

Answer 10

Obivious links with religious differences, economic differences and resentment towards Prussia

Numerous states - not just Austria - resented Prussia and unification

Question 11

How was Austrian strength a main obstacle?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

How wasn’t Austrian strength a main obstacle?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

How many states were in the confederation and what was the problem with this?

Answer 13

There were 39 states and each had their own leader (prince, monarch etc)

A United Germany would only have one leader

Question 14

What did unification mean for most leaders?

Answer 14

Giving up there power

Question 15

What does German princes link to?

Answer 15

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

Question 16

How was German princes a main obstacle?

Answer 16

State leaders were unprepared to support unification of it would cost them power

State leaders continued to control their armies, giving them influence

Question 17

How wasn’t German princes a main obstacle?

Answer 17

Apart from Austria and Prussia most state leaders were relatively powerless - if both had wanted unification it would’ve been difficult to stop them

Question 18

Why did all German states change from being Catholic?

Answer 18

Due to the reformation

Question 19

How were the religious differences largely split?

Answer 19

North/ south split - northern states ( led by Prussia) were Protestant and southern states ( led by Austria) were Catholic

Question 20

What does religious differences link to?

Answer 20

Resentment towards Prussia as religion divided Austria/Prussia and a United Germany might have seen Prussia/Protestant dominance

Question 21

How was religious differences a main obstacle?

Answer 21

Religion often see as a key feature of national identity - differences can undermine nationalism.

Catholic states feared Protestant power in a United Germany

Question 22

How wasn’t religious differences a main obstacle?

Answer 22

Since 30 years in war in 1600s. Religious differences in German states were minimal

Prussia and Austria were rivals due to power - not religion

Question 23

What did Prussias control of the Rhineland mean?

Answer 23

It had access to a range of natural resources ( coal, iron, etc) which helped grow its economy

Question 24

What problems did Austria face

Answer 24

It had little access to natural resources meaning it was far less economically powerful than Prussia

Question 25

What else helped Prussia economically dominate the confederation?

Answer 25

Prussia had control of the Zollverein from which Austria was excluded

Question 26

What did economic differences link to?

Answer 26

Resentment towards Prussia as all the states - including Austria - resented growing Prussian dominance

Question 27

How was economIc differences an obstacle?

Answer 27

Economic differences increased the gap between Austria and Prussia undermining unification

Smaller states also believed Prussia would have greater control of a United Germany

Question 28

How wasn’t economic differences a main obstacle?

Answer 28

Economic differences were not the cause of the Austro-Prussian rivalry , they were simply another factor alongside religion, politics and military issues etc

Question 29

Who made up the largest group in Germany?

Answer 29

Peasants

Question 30

What were the peasants split across?

Answer 30

Rural and urban areas

Question 31

Who was most likely to take an interest in politics?

Answer 31

Urban peasants

Question 32

What does indifference of the masses link to?

Answer 32

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

Question 33

How Was idifference of the masses a main obstacle?

Answer 33

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

Question 34

How wasn’t indifference of the masses a main obstacle?

Answer 34

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

Question 35

Who politically controlled the bund?

Answer 35

Austria even tho Prussia was economically dominant

Question 36

What did Prussia have control of?

Answer 36

The Zollverein as well as a strong military

Question 37

What does resentment towards Prussia link to?

Answer 37

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

Question 38

How was Resentment towards Prussia a main obstacle?

Answer 38

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

Question 39

How wasn’t resentment towards Prussia a main obstacle?

Answer 39

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