German Unification 1815-1871

Steps to Unity Congress of Vienna created German Confederation in 1815 to buffer French expansion United by a diet (assembly) which met at Frankfurt, Austria was the chair Austria dominated Confederation Prussia wanted to dominate (brought them into conflict with Austria) Austria and smaller states did not want unification (Austria feared competition, smaller states feared domination by Prussia)

German Unification

Factors Hindering Unification German differences: Protestant north, Catholic south Austria feared German competition Lesser German states feared losing authority France afraid of German power

Leaders of Unification Otto von Bismarck Chief minister of Prussia (real power of Prussia) Aristocrat: Junker Despised democracy Planned to unite Germany by “Blood and Iron,” military power William I (Wilhelm) King of Prussia (becomes emperor of Germany in 1871) Fully supported Bismarck, very weak

Steps in Unification Creation of Prussian Military Power Bismarck ignored lawmakers & constitution; ruled as a dictator; created a great military machine

More Steps Elimination of Austrian Influence Takes Schleswig-Holstein from Denmark (1864) Seven Weeks War (1866): Bismarck deliberately provoked war with Austria Most Germans want Austria to win Italy sides with Germany and is given Venetia Austria agrees to dissolve German Confederation

Even More Steps Forms Prussian Dominated North German Confederation (1867) (four south German states did not join) Franco-Prussia War (1870-1): Bismarck provokes a war with France so that south Germans would fight and experience nationalism and join German Confederation Prussia wanted a Prussian Hohenzollern for the Spanish throne, Napoleon III wrote a letter denying this, Bismarck rewrote the letter and had it published in Germany, angering most Germans. Napoleon III declared war on Germany. South German states joined Confederation France ceded land of Alsace-Lorraine Agreed to pay Germany indemnity, German military presence in France Seeds of WWI planted

German Confederation As a result of the Franco-Prussian war, the four southern German states joined the German confederation in 1871 William I was proclaimed Kaiser (emperor) of Germany Coronation of Kaiser Wilhelm at Versailles

German Empire Autocracy-Kaiser controlled major decisions; Chancellor (Prime Minister) Bismarck reported to Kaiser not Legislature Prussian domination-King of Prussia automatically became emperor of Germany. Prussia could block most legislation

Germany Under Bismarck Centralized Government: power taken from states Militarism: compulsory military service Industrialization Persecution of other nationalities within Germany: compelled to forsake own nationality and conform; Germanization Bismarck with Disraeli and Franz Josef looking on

More Germany Under Bismarck Anti-Catholic because of their ties to southern states and to Pope Clergy under German control, civil marriages, secular schools Anti-Socialist because of their democratic and antimilitaristic views Used repression and instituted social security Anti-Semitism Used Jews as a scapegoat for all Germany’s problems

William II Divine Right, wanted to rule personally without Chancellor dismisses Bismarck in 1890 Policies-allowed Socialism; followed militaristic & imperialist policies of Bismarck which help lead to WWI