1. Unification of Germany: Historical Context

2. 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?

3. 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.

4. Germany during the Reformation

5. 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.

6. 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

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

8. Hohenzollerns
Ruling Family of Prussia
Frederick Wilhelm IV
Wilhelm I

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

10. 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

11. Habsburgs or Hapsburgs
Austria’s ruling family
Franz Joseph
Ferdinand I – before 1848

12. The German Confederation includes both Prussia and Austria.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

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

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