Unification of Germany: Historical Context

Historical Atlases H-25 to H-32 What will be the obstacles to unifying the German states? Do you think Napoleon help or hinder unity? Explain. How do you think the German states will overcome the obstacles to unity?

Martin Luther 1517 95 Theses called for reform of the Catholic Church His followers were mostly in North German states Austria and southern states remained Catholic.

Germany during the Reformation

30 Years War 1555 Peace of Augsburg decided ruler of each state would determine the religion of all 1618 war begins with Defenestration of Prague. The struggle between the Catholic and Protestant rulers led German states into civil war and became European war. Germany ended impoverished and the Holy Roman Empire was weakened.

Treaty of Westphalia After the Thirty Years’ War (1618–48) ended with Peace of Westphalia which said HRE will never again have authority over all the German states Prussia grows stronger HRE looks to the east

Prussia Originally small and separated states Tries to unify territories It is the “Piedmont- Sardinia” of this story

Hohenzollerns Ruling Family of Prussia Frederick Wilhelm IV Wilhelm I

How Prussia expanded during the reign of Frederick the Great: Rule began in 1740 Ended 1786

Holy Roman Empire Led by the Hapsburgs Dissolved in 1806 by Napoleon Other states in the empire made into the Confederation of the Rhine without Austria

Habsburgs or Hapsburgs Austria’s ruling family Franz Joseph 1848-1916 Ferdinand I – before 1848

The German Confederation includes both Prussia and Austria.

German Confederation Made by Congress of Vienna in 1815 39 states including Austria AND Prussia. Each member remained a sovereign state—the desire of German nationalists for a unified fatherland was ignored.

Metternich Conservative Austrian Minister of State Organized the Congress of Vienna. Ran Austria and kept political control of German states (and much of Italy). Against nationalism, liberalism, republicanism Fled Austria during the 1848 Revolution.

J.G. Herder and J.G. Fichte German nationalists Herder: imitation of foreign ways made people shallow and artificial. All true culture or civilization must arise from native roots and common people—VOLKSGEIST-national character. Fichte: started out approving of the French Revolution—until the French conquered Germany. 1808 Address to the German Nation declared there was an ineradicable German spirit, more noble than that of other peoples.

Junkers Landowning aristocracy of Prussia Military service is required, so all landowners are also military officers.

Zollverein German customs union formed by Prussia Included almost all of the German states except Austria and Bohemia A beginning step toward unification (historiography)