Ruling the Second Reich 1871-79 Flashcards
When was the German Confederation set up?
1815
How many states was the Holy Roman Empire reduced to, to form the German Confederation?
From 360 to 39
What did Prussia introduce which Austria did not join, allowing Prussia to hold more power in the German Cofederation?
Free-trade area or Zollverein
Who was the leader of Prussia? When did they enter office?
Otto von Bismarck
1862
What was Bismarck’s main aim?
Unite all other German states under Prussian leadership and exclude Austria from German affairs
What did Bismarck famously say about unification?
Unification would not be bought about “by speeches and the resolutions of majorities but by blood and iron”
When were the unification wars in Germany?
1864
1866
1870-71
Which states had there own Kings?
Bavaria, Saxony and Württemberg
How were states divided by religion?
South and West were Catholic -Bavaria
North and East were Protestant - Prussia
What was the issue with forming the German Confederation?
-A loose collection of states whose only cooperation was trade and a common defence policy
-All had own sovereignty and weren’t used to being controlled by another power
-Most didn’t consider themselves ethnically German
Who ruled the Duchies of Schleswig and Holstein?
Danes
What was the Schleswig-Holstein issue?
The Danes wanted Schleswig but Germany wanted both
Who was the new Danish King who incorporated Schleswig into Denmark, and when?
Christian IX
1863
Who did the Germans want as ruler of the title of Duke of Schleswig-Holstein?
Frederick, Duke of Augustenburg
What had been the agreement over Schleswig-Holstein?
War in 1848 agreed that the Danish King would rule the region but not incorporate it into Denmark
How was the Schleswig-Holstein agreement violated?
-Prussia and Austria formed an alliance in 1864, response to Christian IX incorporating the region into Denmark
-Prussia and Austria received the region
Which areas of Schleswig-Holstein did Austria and Prussia gain?
Austria = Holstein
Prussia = Schleswig
When did Austria and Prussia go to war? Over what?
June-July 1866 (7 weeks war)
Over the Schleswig-Holstein affair
Who won between Austria and Prussia? Where was the decisive battle?
Prussia won
Battle of Koniggratz
What treaty led to the creation of a German state (North German Confederation)?
Treaty of Prague
Which 4 states remained independent of the North German Confederation?
Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden and Hesse-Darmstadt
Fraction of Germans in the North German Confederation?
2/3
Who did the Spanish offer their throne to, and when, which upset the French?
Prussian Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern
1870
Why did the French dislike the Spanish throne being ruled by a Prussian?
Fearful of being surrounded by Prussian influence
When was the Franco-Prussian war?
1870-71
Where were the French defeated and when?
Battle of Sedan
September 1870
Where and when did some French revolutionaries continue fighting?
Paris
Until January 1871
When and where was German unification declared, forming the German Empire?
18th January 1871
Palace of Versailles
Where else did Bismarck take as compensation for the war with France?
Alsace-Lorraine
£200 000
Who was Prussia’s leader in the Austro-Prussian war?
General Moltke
How many more troops did Austria have than Prussia in the Austro-Prussian war?
400 000 troops = Austria
300 000 troops = Prussia
What was the role of the Kaiser?
-Appoint or dismiss government/Chancellor
-Could dissolve or summon the Reichstag
-Controlled foreign policy and armed forces
-Could interpret the constitution
Who elected the members of the Reichstag, and how often?
All men over 25
Every 5 years
What was the main power of the Reichstag?
Control over the budget
Who mainly made up members in the Reichstag?
Junkers - members weren’t paid so independent wealth was required
What fraction of representation did the Junkers receive, despite making up what % of people?
1/3 of votes
5% of people
What was the role of the Chancellor?
-Proposed new laws to the Reichstag
-Not dependent on Reichstag support to stay in power - could ignore them
-Chaired the Bundesrat
How many members in the Bundesrat and how were they elected?
58 members
Nominated by state (Lander) assemblies
Where were the Bundesrat members from?
17 = Prussia
6 = Bavaria
Smaller states had 1 each
What was the main power of the Bundesrat?
Could veto legislation passed by the Reichstag with just 14 votes
Name the 4 main political parties at this time?
National Liberals
Centre Party (Catholics)
German Conservative Party
SAPD
When were the SAPD banned and why?
1878
Failed attempt to assassinate the Kaiser
When did the SAPD return? How many members did they have?
1890
1 million members
Who were the National Liberals?
Party of the Protestant middle class - main priority was to build a strong German state, and second aim was to build a liberal constitutional state - backed Bismarck up to 1878
Who were the SAPD?
Socialist workers’ party with close links to trade union fought for social reforms
Who were the German conservative party?
Mainly Prussian landowners (Junkers)
Disliked unification an supported Bismarck after 1878
Fraction of the new German Empire who were Catholic?
1/3
How many royal rulers were there in the 1870s?
22