The Unification of Germany

1
The Unification of Germany

• Aim How did nationalism contribute to the
  formation of Germany?
• Do Now Describe the roles Mazzini, Garibaldi,
  and Cavour played in Italian unification.

2
Do Now Italian Unification

• Joseph Mazzini provided inspiration with
  pamphlets organized Young Italy Movement he was
  called the soul of Risorgimento (Italian
  unification process)
• Camillo di Cavour provided political leadership
  as prime minister of Sardinia-Piedmont, did much
  diplomatic work for unification
• Guiseppe Garibaldi provided military leadership
  Red Shirt campaigns helped free the Two Sicilies
  he was called the sword of the Italian movement

3
Efforts to Unite Germany

• 1815 39 German states formed the German
  Confederation
• The two largest states, the Austro-Hungarian
  Empire and Prussia, dominated the Confederation

4
Prussia

• Prussias population was mostly German
• Nationalism unified Prussia
• Prussias army was the strongest in Central
  Europe
• Prussia industrialized at a faster rate than
  other German states
• Prussia also created an economic union called the
  Zollverein
• The Zollverein eliminated tariff barriers between
  many German states

5
Prussia Leads German Unification

• Prussia faced a revolution in 1848
• Rioters forced King Frederick William IV to call
  a constitutional convention and accept a liberal
  constitution
• 1861 Wilhelm I succeeded Frederick William to
  the throne
• He wanted to reform the army and double the size
  of the Prussian military

6
Clashes with Parliament

• Parliament did not want to spend money to
  increase the size of the military
• The Junkers, or wealthy landowners, support
  Wilhelm
• All of Wilhelms military officers and ministers
  were from Junker class
• He also chose Otto von Bismarck, a Junker, to
  become his Prime Minister

7
Otto von Bismarck

• Otto von Bismarck used realpolitik to accomplish
  his goals
• Realpolitik was tough politics without idealism
• Realpolitik was based on the needs of the state
  and valued power over principles
• When Bismarck could not get Parliament to agree
  with him, he ruled without their consent and
  without a legal budget
• This was a violation of the constitution

8
Question What emotions do you believe this quote
would evoke?

• The great questions of the day will not be
  settled by speeches or by majority decisions
  that was the mistake of 1848 and 1849 but by
  blood and iron.
• Otto von Bismarck

9
Germany Expands

• Bismarck formed an alliance with Austria
• Prussia and Austria then attacked Denmark to gain
  control of two border provinces, Schleswig and
  Holstein
• Prussia gained control of Schleswig and Austria
  governed Holstein
• This solidified Prussias role as the leader of
  the German unification movement

10
Bismarck Eliminates Austria

• In order to disable Austria, Prussia instigated a
  border dispute with Austria
• Austria declared war on Prussia in 1866
• This became known as the Seven Weeks War
• Prussia was victorious due to superior military
  training and equipment
• A humiliated Austria gave up the region of
  Venetia (Italy gained the region)
• Prussia gained control of northern Germany
• The eastern and western parts of the Prussian
  kingdom were united
• In 1867, the remaining states of the north joined
  the North German Confederation

11
The Franco-Prussian War

• Northern Germany was predominately Protestant
• Southern Germany was predominately Catholic
• Bismarck believed a war with France would united
  the north and the south
• Bismarck instigated a war with France by creating
  the illusion that French ambassador had insulted
  the Prussian king (Ems Dispatch)
• The French reacted by declaring war
• The Franco-Prussian War was the final step in the
  unification of Germany
• On Jan. 18, 1871, King Wilhelm I of Prussia was
  crowned kaiser

12
The Balance of Power Shifts

• 1815 The Congress of Vienna established a
  balance of power between the five Great Powers of
  Europe Britain, France, Austria, Prussia, and
  Russia
• 1871 Britain and Prussia were clearly the
  strongest nations in Europe (militarily and
  economically)