The Unification of Germany Flashcards
Machiavellian
The end justifies the means.
Bismarck - the great Machiavellian.
1815
Creation of the German Confederation.
39 states.
Based in Frankfurt - parliament - Diet of Frankfurt.
Austria had veto in the Diet.
Conservative, opposed to change.
Austria had the political leadership of G.C.
G.C. ended in 1866, after war w. A.
1834
Establishment of Zollverein.
Economic Union
Austria excluded.
Headed by Prussia.
P. had veto.
A. wanted to join 3 times, but P. vetoed.
Led to integration.
“G. was not united by blood and iron, but by coal and iron.”-John Maynard Keynes.
Began to develop system of measurements/weights & developed single currency.
Beginning of union from below, G. identity developing.
Led to rapid growth of P.’s econ.
Invested in industry, railways, military.
Railways brought G. states within hours of one another - economic development.
1862
Bec. of political crisis in P. over length of military service, Bismarck appointed Minister President of P.
Main objective: make P. dominant power in G.C.
1864
The Danish War.
A-P invasion of Schleswig-Holstein.
P. gained support among G. nationalists who wanted these provinces under G. control.
1866
A-P war. “The battle of Sadowa”
Relations betw. A & P broke down over control of Schleswig-Holstein (Treaty of Gastein).
1865- secret meeting betw. Bismarck & Napoleon III in Bearritz.
Bismarck wants F. neutrality in a war w. A.
Napoleon demanded Venetia to be taken from A. to I.
After meeting, Bismarck goes to I. & tells them they’ll get Venetia & persuaded I. to provoke the war & P. comes in to “preserve balance of power.”
Took A. 6 weeks to mobilise, took P. 9 days.
P. wins war, A. excluded from G. affairs (Treaty of Prague)
G.C. dissolved, North G.C. formed containing all north G. states & controlled by P.
Only block left to unification was F. - emergence of united G. under P. was threat to F. supremacy.
Prussian - Austrian relations to 1866
“Peaceful co-existence” - Metternich.
Holly Alliance 1815 until Crimean War 1854-56.
Consisted of Russia, Prussia, Austria.
They feared rev. ideas of liberty coming from F. revolution.
Conservative alliance.
1849 - P. formed Erfurt Union w. 6 G. states.
A. opposed this.
1850- 2 sides mobilised for war.
A. turned to R. for assistance.
R. gave promise to help if A. attacked.
P. backed down.
4 years later, R. asked A. for help in Crimean War (R. against B., F., Piedmont, O.E.), but A. declined.
Break-up of Holly Alliance.
Connection between G. unification & I. unification
The one in the way - A.
After Crimean War, A. isolated.
Crimean War opened door to G. & I. unification.
Bismarck, Prussia & unification
Bismarck became chancellor of P. in 1862.
Aims when he became chancellor:
Domestic:
1. Conservative: wanted to preserve monarchy, status of Junker class, religion domination (protestantism).
2. Anti - republicanism, anti-liberalism, anti-catholicism.
Foreign:
- Replace A. domination of G. (achieved 1866)
- Unify G.
1870
Offer of Spanish throne made to Leopold of Hohenzollern - member of Prussian royal family.
F. was very alarmed at possibility of G. king of Spain.
Leopold declined under F. pressure.
French foreign minister insisted on guarantee that candidacy won’t be renewed.
King William refused to give this guarantee.
Bismarck released version of discussions to press that looked like French Ambassador was insulted by P. king (Ems Telegram)
F. was outraged & declared war.
F. defeated in 6 weeks.
Factors to unification
Bismarck
Economy
Weakness of A.
Mistakes of F.
January 18th 1871
King of P. crowned G. Emperor at Versailles.
Results of Franco-Prussian war
Marked end of F. military domination in Europe.
New G. Empire emerged as Europe’s foremost military power.
P. dominated new G. state.
Bitterness betw. F. & G. (sowed the seeds for WWI).
French resentment at loss of Alsace-Lorraine & desire for revenge.
As result of war F. troops guarding Pope in Rome were forced to withdraw & I. unification was completed.
