1. Building a German Empire
Chapter 7 Section 1

2. 1800s: German speaking people lived...
small and medium sized states
Prussia
Austrian Hapsburg Empire

3. Steps Toward Unity Napoleon Raids
, important territorial changes
Annexed lands along the Rhine River for France
Dissolved Holy Roman Empire
Organized German states into Rhine Confederation

4. Steps Toward Unity

5. Napoleon in Germany Pros Cons Enlightened and modern policies
Encouraged free serfs
Made trade easier
Abolished laws against Jews
German Unification lacking
Under French rule

6. Aftermath of Napoleon Napoleon defeated
German Confederation
Weak alliance headed by Austria
1830s, Russia called for economic union
Zollverein
Dismantled tariff barriers between many German states
WHAT IS A TARIFF?
Germany still fragmented
F. William IV of Prussia offered throne
Rejected

7. Bismarck Unites Germany
Otto von Bismarck
From Prussia Junker class
Conservative, landowning nobles
1st diplomat
Then Prime Minister
Chancellor (highest official of a monarch)
William I = the monarch

8. Blood and Iron Bismarck – strong will Realpolitik
Realistic politics based on the needs to the state
Not a real German nationalist
Loyalty to Hohenzollerns, or ruling class, of Prussia

9. Bismarck (1862) Blood and Iron Speech
Prussian legislators waited restlessly for Otto von Bismarck to speak. He wanted them to vote for more money to build up the army. Liberal members opposed the move. Bismarck rose and dismissed their concerns
“Germany does not look to Prussia’s liberalism, but to her power...the great questions of the day are not to be decided by speeches and majority resolutions—that was the mistake of 1848 and 1849—but by blood and iron!”

10. Army and War Built up Prussian army despite liberals
Used money allocated for other things
Three Wars
1864: Alliance with Austria
Seized land from Denmark
1866: Attacked Austria
Persian victory
Persian control over several north German states
1870: Franco Prussian War
Persian victory over Napoleon III in France
Humiliating defeat

11. German Empire William I took title of Kaiser Two-house legislature
“Emperor”
January 1871: German nationals celebrated 2nd Reich (empire)
Believe to be the heir to Holy Roman Empire
Two-house legislature