Unification of Germany Pt.1

Question 1

What was the cause of revolution in Germany 1848-9? (economic/social)

Answer 1

Increasing population - doubled in the previous century - many travelled to cities/towns and 250,000 went abroad (USA)

Majority of land belonged to Junkers in the country - tenant farmers with high rents

Urbanisation - Berlin: 172,000 in 1800 and 1848 <400,000 - insufficient/poor jobs/housing - low wages and typhoid/cholera outbreaks - high crime rate and homelessness

Economic crisis 1846-7 - bad harvests/potato blight - rioting “potato revolution” - reduction in consumer spending led to wage cuts and mass unemployment within especially the textile industry

Class Consciousness