HIST2086 Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor Prussia and the German Confederation, Lecture 3 9 September 2010

German disunity “Germany” not one state (as F, GB, E) but 314 states of very different sizes Loosely united in “Holy Roman Empire of German Nation” presided by Austrian Emperor (until 1806) Napoleon’s reorganization: Annexing & amalgamating = creating 39 German states Prussia defeated and territorially-reduced by France (1806)

Napoleonic reforms Strong influence of French legal system (Code Napoleon) & revolutionary political ideas French encouragement of middle-class involvement in government & administration Prussian government’s decision to copy French-style revolutionary ideas (but ‘revolution from above’)

Prussian Reforms, Governmental + administrative reforms: → To establish rational rule of bureaucracy Social + economic reforms: → To set up a modern society of free + equal citizens forming a ‘political nation’ Constitutional reforms: → To safeguard rule of bureaucratic state + basic rights of citizens Military reforms: → Universal conscription: ‘The Nation in Arms’ = A ‘Revolution from above’: Led by progressive bureaucrats + officers against conservative aristocrats + bureaucrats

Congress of Vienna, : Principles Restoration: of political situation of 1792 Legitimacy: to justify dynastical claims of Ançien Régime Solidarity: common policies of legitimate princes against revolutionary ideas + movements → Created a new European order as balance of power of 5 great powers (GB, R, F, A, Pr) → Made Prussia a permanent member of ‘Club of Big 5s’ → Paved way to set up ‘German Confederation’

Congress of Vienna, : Results Territorial results for Prussia: Acquired Northern Saxony + Rhineland + Westphalia + Western Pomerania + Danzig + Thorn + Posen = Bulwark function at Rhine River (Prussian Rhineland) versus France = Separated Prussia into 2 economical + confessional very different territories = Future economic gravity of Prussia more in her West than in her East

Holy Alliance, Sep 1815: “Alliance of throne and altar” Russia’s proposal to protect religion, peace, justice Initial alliance of Russia, Austria, Prussia, then joined by all European monarchs → “Government by divine right” → Right of intervention against all liberal + national movements → Only rejected by liberal-minded British parliament = ☺1st supranational organization in modern history to preserve peace = ☻ Effective weapon of Austria (Metternich) to enforce conservative policies in member states (Carlsbad Decrees)

German Confederation, (1) Federal Act, Jun 1815: → ‘… to preserve the internal and external security of Germany and the independence and inviolability of the German states’ (Art. 2) 39 members: 35 princes + 4 other rulers: Incl. King of Britain (Hanover) Incl. King Denmark (Holstein) Incl. King of Netherlands (Luxemburg) Incl. Austria (only partly) Incl. Prussia (only partly)

German Confederation, (2) Diet (Bundestag) at Frankfurt → Permanent meeting of ambassadors under chairmanship of Austria Federal Army → Individual contingents supplied by member states No joint finances, laws, traffics, economies Each German state with own independent ruler, own government, own army = little control of Confederation

German Confederation, (3) = A compromise between … Interest in federalism (Prussia and her reformers) Interest in strong state sovereignty (Austria + German middle-sized states) Interest in new loosely united empire (small-sized German states) = A confederation of states with … Federal accessories Promise of mutual alliance Promise to maintain territorial status quo Promise to have equal justice under law = But … No real focus point for German nationalism No revival of the loosely united Holy Roman Empire A constant rivalry between Austria and Prussia

Monarchical rule vs. Constitutions Restoration of monarchical rule But: ‘Constitution of Regional Estates’ (Landständische Verfassungen) a concession of Confederation to liberalism & expectations after Wars of Liberation vs. France = Introduction of constitutions (French model) in some German states ( ) = Prussia: Provincial Estates with limited advisory powers dominated by large landowners (Junkers) = Austria: Provincial diets with very little power

Conclusion Map of Europe redrawn in 1815 Monarchical rule re-established & confirmed Rivalry between Austria and Prussia for dominance inside German Confederation Strong impact of illiberality & repression by Metternich system Lasting French influences in administrations & political spheres Constitutions & assemblies as seeds of growing liberalism & political participation