Weakness of Austria

Question 1

Summary Card:

What are the four factors which suggest that the weakness of Austria was significant in the unification of Germany?

Answer 1

• Austria lost allies during the 1850s, this decreased its influence and power in Europe
• Austria failed to join the zollverein and failed to create its own customs union in 1851, this limited its economic advancement as a nation compared to the German states
• Austria were financially weak from Metternich
• Austrias geographical position meant that it lacked industrial transformation

Question 2

How did Austria loose allies and influence in Europe 1850s?

Think two wars

Answer 2

• Despite Russia coming to Austrias aid in 1848 to restore autocracy and the fact that they kept a stand in army, Austria did not support Russia in the Crimean war 1853-1856. Austria became alienated as it made Russia less likely to support them in the future. Crimean War marked the downfall of Russia, France restored as prominant power.
• 1859 North Italian War against France made France an enemy of Austria.

Question 3

Who was the Prussian minister-president in 1850s? How was he significant in showing the weakness of Austria?

Answer 3

Under Edwin Manteuffel Prussia under went a series of economic reforms and experienced a sharp increase in foreign trade and industrial production. By 1870 they had an exensive 11,000km railway network which Austria could not compete with

Question 4

Why did Austria not join the Zollverein?

Answer 4

Protectionist policies to protect their own industries meant they had high import duties. Joining the zollverein would have meant reducing these to the level of other states which was something they would not consider.

Question 5

What was the result for Austria economically after not joining the zollverein?

Answer 5

They became economically isolated and had fallen behind Prussia in all economic areas by 1859.

Question 6

What was the Zollunion?

Answer 6

A proposed extended customs union between Austria and the Zollverein. This was suggested in 1849 after the implications of falling behind Prussia economically were realised.

• Note: when this failed Austrian Prime Minister (Schwarenberg) attempted to establish an alternative customs union including Austria and all Germans states outside the Zollverein however this to failed.

Question 7

What were three reasons Austria grew increasingly financially weak around the 1850s?

Answer 7

1. Military operations against 1848 revolutionaries had cost the government. As had keeping a stand-in army mobilised ready for action in the Crimean War (although they never joined)
2. Failures in Italy-Loss of Lombardy in 1859 led to decreased revenue and loss of money from the military failure in second war of Italian independence
3. Debt- government expenditure was reduced and taxes were increased to try and reduce the debt left over from Metternich.

Question 8

What was Austrias geographical position and why did this make them weak?

Answer 8

• landlocked so could not benefit from overseas trade therefore relied on land transport for materials. Prussia had an extensive railway network which was twice the size of that of Austrias. Southern Europe did not benefit as much from industrial revolution (and spread of railways) as a result.
• Economy was largely agricultural, pockets of industry confined to western regions
• Danube was not as central to trade as the Rhine, therefore Austria’s benefit was limited.

Question 9

Why might it be argued that Austria were in fact not weak during this period?

Answer 9

German confederation reestablished 1850-1866 presided over by Austria set about undoing most of the liberal achievements of 1848. Austria remained politically dominant, this made unification of Germany difficult.

Question 10

Counter Arguement

Why was it unlikely, even in 1866, that Prussia would defeat Austria?

Answer 10

• Austria had 400,000 soldiers to Prussias 300,000
• Despite the advantages bought with economic unity, many zollverein states still politically supported Austria. For example, Frankfurt, Saxony, Bavaria and Hannover sided with Austria i 1866
• Austria had the advantage of the central position on the battle feild
• Many Prussians were unwilling to fight a war against their fellow Germans.

Austria arguably lost due to failure of the military commanders and not due to the weakness of the army itself

Arguement that Prussian victory was due to skillful leadership not Austrian weakness