The Unification of Germany (1815-1871)

Question 2

What are the three points of Unification? (idk what to call these three points or their significance)

Answer 2

1. The Holy Roman Empire:
   - Established 800 AD as a confederation of ~300 states
   - Confederation: Union of self-governing states united by a central gov
   - For the HRE:
   Emperor who ruled over all states
   Popular to German people (proud of their culture and heritage)
   Could be associated politically but still independent culturally
2. Confederation of the Rhine:
   - Reorganized states under Napoleon’s empire (1806-1813)
   - Went from 300 to 30 states (still a confederation)
   People argued Germany should be a single state
   Napoleon was a strong leader they wanted to follow
   - Then Russia happened (his invasion)
3. German Confederation:
   - Created by the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)
   - Originally consisted of German States (from the Confederation of the Rhine), and part of Prussia and Austria
   Prussia and Austria were both powerful and both wanted to lead Germany

Question 3

What was the main dilemma of the unification?

Answer 3

Would Prussia or Austria lead the new empire?

Prussia:
Almost entirely German speaking
Very conservative (politically)

Austria:
Multi-ethnic and diverse
Part of the Habsburg Empire

Question 4

Who was Otto von Bismarck “The Iron Chancellor” and what would a unified Germany include?

Answer 4

Otto von Bismarck “The Iron Chancellor”:

• 1815-1898 to noble family
• Premier of Prussia (1862-1890) and Chancellor of Germany (1871-1890)
• Very conservative, yet realistic
• Hated Liberalism
• Had a dream to see the German states unified into one great nation
• 1860s: used diplomacy and Prussian military to create a unified Germany

Unifed Germany would include…

1. Prussia (dominant power)
   German Confederation
   Prussia and Confederation together = “Smaller Germany”
2. Austria was excluded
   Bismark didn’t want to share power with Austria
   Austrian Empire seen as “unpure”- multiethnic
   Bismarck only wanted Gernanic people to be part of Great Germany… Foreshadowing (Hitler)

Question 5

What was Bismarck’s Blood and Iron speech?

Answer 5

• Blood represents ethnic German people
• Iron represents strong military power
• One technique used by Bismark was the use of war and manipulation to unify the Germanic people
  A common cause/enemy unites
• Series of wars to create the Germany he wanted

Question 6

What is Realpolitik?

Answer 6

• Realpolitik: (real; practical; actual) A philosophy of making realistic and achievable promises, rather than ideological or ethical promises
  Only make promises you can keep
• Ex. Bismark encourage trade with southern German states (Austria) even though they were sworn enemeies
  Do what you need to do for the good of the nation

Question 7

Church vs State in Germany

Answer 7

• Kulturkampf: “The Struggle for Culture” between the Catholic Church and the German Empire
  Restricted infulence of Church in Germany
  Bismark felt RC Church was threat
  Gov should control culture, not Church

Question 8

Economic Growth in Germany

Answer 8

Railroads:
- Used France’s reparations (money for war damages) to build railroads to link German States

Industry:
- Built German Businesses to catch up with other industrialized countries in Europe
- Coal mines, steel factories, etc

Social Reform:
- German socialists protested against harsh factory conditions
- Bismarck called for state control of industries

Question 9

Bismarck and Wilhelm II

Answer 9

1. After Unification
   Bismarck did not want to expand Germany’s borders
   Believed France remained a threat
2. Alliances
   Bismarck made alliances with Austria-Hungary, Italy, Russia
   Nations agreed to help protect one another from possible attack (foreshadowing)
3. Bismarck Out
   1888, Wilhelm’s grandson became kaiser
   Wilhelm II fired Bismarck as a prime minister after a disagreement
4. Wilhelm II
   Early 1900s, continued to make alliances with other European nations
   Built up most powerful military force in Europe