1. Otto von Bismarck & German Unification
German Nationalism
Otto von Bismarck &
German Unification

2. Bell Ringer
What is nationalism?
Discuss with Partner
1 minute

4. Obstacles to German Unity
Austria, France and Russia all feared a unified Germany would be a powerful threat
Smaller German states feared a unified Germany would mean Prussian control (this was the same feeling some smaller American colonies experienced after the Revolution!)
Catholic German states in the south feared Protestant Lutheran states in the north would dominate

6. Baby steps towards German Unification
Prior to 1800, there were about 250 German kingdoms, states or baronies.
When Napoleon conquered Europe, he reduced this number to 100 by combining and/or eliminating many of the German states in order to make the territory easier to rule (Confederation of the Rhine).
In 1815, the Congress of Vienna further reduced this number to 38 by creating the German Confederation.
Austria was the strongest member of the Confederation (remember, the Austrians share a Germanic culture); Prussia was the second strongest

7. Austria Must Go!
Many German nationalists believed that for a new German Reich (empire) to emerge, Austrian influence must be eliminated and Prussia must take the lead in unification!
Why get rid of Austria?
The Austrian Empire was not purely German; it contained a huge mix of different ethnicities and nationalities.
Plus, Austria would try to dominate German politics

9. Prussian Leadership Prussia was an authoritarian state.
Strong work ethic
Very militaristic
Strong army
Army would carry out the needs of the government

10. Revolution Hits Germany-1848
Liberals demand reforms such as:
A Constitution
Workers rights
The revolt was suppressed by Fredrick Wilhelm IV – emperor of Prussia
1849 – German Parliament tries to unify German States into one country
Offer the crown of the new Germany to Fredrick Wilhelm IV.
He turns them down. He believes in the concept of divine right. “I will not accept a crown from the gutter.”
German unification put on hold

11. Otto von Bismarck “The Iron Chancellor”
Prussian Junker
Junker = conservative noble class
1862 – became Chancellor under King Wilhelm I (a position much like Prime Minister or Secretary of State)
His goal? German unification!
He would accomplish it in just under 10 years

12. Bismarck (cont.)
“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!”

13. Blood and Iron
Discuss with your partner what you think Bismarck meant by Germany’s power will be determined by “blood and iron.” 2 Minutes

14. Realpolitik Strong will Powerful manipulator
Master of “Realpolitik” – politics of reality
Politics based on practical matters rather than theory or ethics
Often resulted in ruthless decisions
(Sound familiar- Machiavelli???)
“The ends justify the means.”

15. REAlpolitik at work
Had wars with Denmark and Austria - Prussia easily won
No harsh terms of peace in order to prevent feelings of revenge.

16. Bismarck’s wars War against Denmark (with the help of Austria)
Seven Weeks War (against Austria)
Franco-Prussian War (against France)

17. 1866: Austro-Prussian War aka- The Seven Weeks War
Bismarck invented excuse to attack Austria
Lasted 7 weeks
Major victory for Prussia
Prussia
annexed Holstein and several other German states
Dissolved Austrian gov’t & replaced with dominant Prussian one

18. Practical Motives
“We had to avoid leaving behind any desire for revenge.”
Otto von Bismarck

19. 1870: Franco-Prussian War Growing rivalry between:
France (Napoleon III- nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte)
Prussia (Wilhelm I & Bismarck)
Relative of Wilhelm was offered the Spanish throne
France protested
Bismarck rallies Germans (all Germans). It becomes “Us against Them”

20. Ems Dispatch Bismarck rewrote & released in the press a telegram
Wilhelm “insulted” French ambassador
Napoleon III (France) declared war on Prussia
Now France looks like the aggressor nation

21. “On to Berlin!”…not France attacked Prussia
Prussia – military superiority; highly industrialized
Spanked France
Napoleon III surrendered (taken captive)
German army enters Paris

22. Germany Unifies January 18,1871 German Confederation made official
Bismarck German princes, nobles, and generals gathered at Versailles (Ouch!)
Wilhelm I of Prussia proclaimed Kaiser of the Second German Empire

24. France Pays the Cost of Peace
Peace treaty signed May 1871
France paid $1 billion and had to give up the provinces of Alsace & Lorraine
For the next 40 years, all that was left were bitter feelings and the desire for revenge… the “Revanche” movement
France will have its revenge after World War I

25. Toward the Unification of Germany, 1740-1871

26. Europe 1871

27. Italian unification

28. Beginnings of Italian Nationalism
Italian Peninsula - not unified since fall of Roman Empire
Despite common language, most of peninsula divided into competing states with own government

29. Beginnings (cont.) Napoleon invaded Italy
United many states under one gov’t
Congress of Vienna - split Italian states
Spirit of nationalism began to rise

30. National Groups Ignored
COV had ignored national groups
Placed them under control of large empires (sometimes w/ mixed ethnicities)
Some states were under Austrian control, while others were under French control

31. Secret Societies
Italian artists, writers, thinkers became interested in celebrating Italy’s cultural traditions
Others formed secret societies to work for political change
Some even plotted to overthrow the Austrian government in Italy

32. Mazzini & Young Italy
1831, popular writer, Giuseppe Mazzini, launched a nationalist group called Young Italy to fight for unification of the Italian states
Mazzini had been exiled but smuggled patriotic pamphlets into Italy
Young Italy attracted tens of thousands of Italians to the cause of unification

33. The Path Toward Unity
As nationalism grew, some Italians led unsuccessful rebellions
Then, two men rose to lead a successful movement to unify Italy…

34. Count Cavour Camilio di Cavour Fought for Sardinia’s independence
One of the most important leaders of Italian unification
Founded the nationalist newspaper, Il Risorgimento - or “resurgence”

35. Kingdom of Sardinia 1852, Cavour became Prime Minister
Worked toward rebuilding a thriving economy so that Italy could unify (as a monarchy)
Cavour aligned Sardinia with France
Sardinia supported France in war with Russia & gave them the provinces of Savoy & Nice
In turn, France supported Sardinia in its war against Austria - (successful liberation)

36. Check for Understanding
How did Cavour help Sardinia break free from the Austrian Empire?
Talk with Partner
30 seconds

37. Garibaldi & the Red Shirts
Many Italians consider Cavour “brain” of Italian unification, Mazzini “heart”
Giuseppe Garibaldi has been called “sword” of Italy
Garibaldi joined Young Italy movement, 1833
Nationalist activities forced Garibaldi to flee Italy twice
Learned techniques of guerilla warfare while living in South America
Returned to Italy often to continue fight to free Italy from Austrian domination

38. Garibaldi’s Return 1854, Garibaldi returned for good
Cavour asked to lead part of Sardinian army in war against Austria
After bitter fighting, Austrians agreed to give up Lombardy, retaining Venetia

39. The Red Shirts
Followers known as Red Shirts because of colorful uniforms
By July 1860, using guerilla warfare, Garibaldi, Red Shirts gained control of island of Sicily
September, Garibaldi, Sardinian troops conquered Naples
Red Shirts now controlled southern part Italian peninsula
Garibaldi wanted a republic, but ultimately offered the Kingdom of Two Sicilies to Sardinian king Victor Emmanuel

40. Check for Understanding
What actions led Garibaldi to be called the “sword” of Italian unification?
Talk with Partner
30 seconds

41. Unification
1861, territories held elections, all agreed to unification
Holdouts were Venetia, still belonging to Austria; Papal States, under French troops supporting pope
1866, Prussia defeated Austria, gave Venetia to Italy
1870, Prussia forced French to withdraw from Rome
Italian troops entered Rome, completed unification under King Victor Emmanuel