1. The Unification of Germany

2. Europe 1815

4. Key Questions What was Germany like before 1815?
How was Germany affected by the Vienna settlement?
What was the impact of Nationalism on the Germanic states?
What was the significance of the Zollverein?
What accounts for the rise of Prussian economic and military power?

5. Germany before 1815
German speaking language- no corresponding territory to call “Germany”- most German speaking people were part of the Holy Roman Empire
Ancient Empire- ruled by the Hapsburgs
A collection of lands whose rulers owed allegiance to the Holy Roman Emperors (who were Austrian)
A bewildering variety of tiny states ruled by margraves, dukes, princes, electors, etc…

7. Germany before 1815
Most significant state within the empire was Brandenburg-Prussia (north east)- ruled by the Hohenzollerns (Prussians)
Saxony
Bavaria
Baden
Wurttemberg

9. Germany before 1815
states linked by language and membership of the HRE
The HRE did not ‘rule’ in any temporal sense
The people of the Germanic lands owed allegiance to their rulers- fierce loyalty- therefore localist and not nationalist
Some German state ruled over non-Germans- Prussia and Poles, Austria ruled many
No religious uniformity due to the reformation (1517)- split between Catholics and Protestants (Peace of Augsburg 1555)
Most Germans were involved in agriculture and small industries- one big city (Vienna) and one major port (Hamburg)

10. Italy vs. Germany
Discuss whether it seemed more likely in 1815 that Germany or Italy would seek unification?

11. Leading Powers
Prussia- included small territories separated from each other
Brandenburg- Hohenzollerns (electors of Prussia)
Upper class supporters- Junkers (jung+Herr= young lord)
Junkers ruled over their lands and peasants but gave service to the state

12. “Iron and Rye”

13. Prussia
Held their own courts on their lands, influential in the military and civil service
Sign of a junker was the use of “von” in their names- Otto von Bismarck- Schonhausen
Effective administration- Frederick II (The Great), large powerful army (Napoleon’s tactics were developed with Frederick’s in mind)

16. Prussia
Eastern provinces- economically poor, poor soil in Brandenburg, the estates in the east had no modern farming techniques
18th century Prussian tradition/culture- service to the state, hard work, religious devotion, respect for the army and the monarch
“Parade ground of Europe”

17. Austria

18. Austria Most influential empire in continental Europe (1815- 1848)
1.5 million Czechs, 3.3. million Magyars, Slovaks, Croats, Italians, Poles, Romanians, Ruthenes, Serbs, Slovenes and Belgians
Official language and culture- German
Technically ruled all of Germany (not Prussia) through the HRE

19. History and Hindsight…too much?
Source A:
The century towards which the Hapsburgs were moving was to see the gradual triumphs of two concepts: democracy and nationalism. Each was in itself a threat to the survival of the dynasty. When the two joined hands, any hope of stability…was doomed.
Brook Shepherd, G The Austrians. London, UK. HarperCollins. P. 30

20. The Impact of Napoleon
Prussia was concerned about the risk of the French Revolution to its monarchy, therefore joins Austria
Napoleon conquered much of German speaking central Europe- Prussia and Austria remained independent
1806 HRE was abolished- Confederation of the Rhine took its place

22. The Impact of Napoleon
Larger states were allowed to take over smaller ones
Napoleonic rule produced major changes to German lands- no more HRE, introduction of small church states and free cities and the consolidation of many small states- 19th century Germany would be less complex
In response to French rule- patriotic resistance emerged- see “The German Fatherland”

23. Prussian Reforms 1807 serfdom abolished Nobles were allowed to trade
Rich, non-nobles could acquire land
Military liberalism- promotion by merit
Conscription (Landwehr 1814)
Parliamentary government- dominated by nobles
These changes brought greater unity and simplified laws and justice

24. How was Germany affected by the Vienna Settlement?

25. Congress of Vienna
Priority- protect Europe against France and maintain old monarchies
Changes in German lands meant there was no way to restore the hundreds of small states- 39 new states emerged
Confederation of 39 states headed by princes and kings oversaw by Austria called the Bund (confederation/league)

26. Vienna terms on German Lands
Bund assembly called the Diet- 17 members- Austria was a permanent member- representatives spoke on behalf of their states not as a ‘nation’
Prussia gain land west of the German states on both sides of the Rhine- barrier to French expansion
The Rhineland was full of coal and iron ore
Prussia lost land in Poland
The Bund would crush any form of German nationalism

27. Forces for change after 1815 Liberalism and Nationalism
Germany

28. Economic Growth
Source A: Wells, Mike. Unification of Italy and Germany Cambridge, UK. Cambridge University Press. P. 115
“It (Germany) had a rising population with more people living in cities. Its growing middle class was well educated…Economic growth was transforming central Germany as a whole and Prussia in particular. All these developments indicate that future changes to the Vienna settlement were likely. “

29. Economic Growth
Cities grew, populations grew, new industrial techniques, modern farming methods and new transportation methods (train, canal)
Regions experiencing rapid growth- best resources: metal ore, coal, power, markets and technical knowledge
Germany- Prussia was able to grow due to this however Austria remained agricultural and static

30. Forces Opposing Change in 1815
German confederation- ruled by Kings and Princes who favored their own interests
Austria and Russia
Conservative, traditional peasantry and small town merchants
Local traditions- religion, distrust of bigger states by smaller
Linguistic and cultural gap between north and south
National unity associated with French rule (resentment of conscription and other Napoleonic measures
Grossdeutschland and Kleindeutschland

31. What was the importance of the growth of nationalism?
Germany

32. Nationalism 3 different forms:
Official organizations and supporters of greater unity
Cultural elements that brought Germany closer together
Economic factors that encouraged unification
Gymnastics Clubs (1811)
Address to the German Nation ( )
The Spirit of the Age (1806)
Anti-Semitism elements- many of the literary nationalists were appalled by revolutionary ideas from France

33. Student Nationalism
Most enthusiastic supporters were students- liberal and nationalist ideas- based on leading university towns
1817 Wartburg (Festival) Castle
Saxe-Weimar- ruled by a constitutional ruler
1819 Karl Sand assassinated August von Kotzebue (playwright- attacked nationalists and was supported by Russia))

35. Student Nationalism
This was not widespread nationalism- more student activism…however…
Metternich convinced the Bund to pass the Carlsbad Decrees (see handout)
“a word spoken by Austria is an unbreakable law for Germany”
Very successful laws- The Prussians in particular enjoyed this power over its citizens
Then came the rebellions of the 1830s

36. Student Nationalism
1830 revolution in France- triggered disturbances in Poland, Italy and Germany- constitutional demands, peasant unrest and worker discontent
,000 nationalists marched to the castle of Handbach (Bavaria)- King of Bavaria sent in the army- caused fear throughout Germany
Six articles and Ten Acts passed by Austria- supreme suppression of nationalist thoughts- even banned the ‘national flag’
The 39 states were expected to co-operate in the repression of national unrest

38. Subterranean Nationalism
After 1832 all nationalist activity took place secretly/private meetings
Disguised as Gymnastics Clubs or Musical Societies ,000 members of Gymnastics clubs
100,000 singing club members- patriotic songs- historical festivals- Arminius (Mythical leader of the German tribes that defeated the Romans)
Regardless it wasn’t until 1859 that a nationalist association (Nationalverein) existed (no leading figure like Mazzini)
Therefore nationalism took on the form of patriotic sentiment rather than a movement for nation building

39. Cultural Nationalism
More important than nationalist expression- cultural appreciation of a Germanic type
Greater awareness of “GERMAN” culture among the middle class- independent craftsmen, academics and businessmen
The peasants…didn’t flock to opera so its likely they didn’t experience any of this patriotic sentiment- no time to go on nationalist walking tours

40. German Renaissance Rediscovery of German folklore- Brothers Grimm
Literary romanticism of Goethe and Schiller
German music developed a contrasting style to Italian Opera- Wagner (old Germanic legends for inspiration)
Beethoven
German history became the standard- Von Ranke
Caspar David Friedrich

46. What was the significance of the zollverein
Germany

47. Zollverien
1818 Prussian tariff reform law- all raw materials were free from tariffs and within Prussian territories, all internal customs and duties were abolished (liberal)
Free trade within the largest state in Germany- therefore other neighboring states wished to join to trade freely with Prussia
Formal agreement in states and 26 million people- Austria was never a member

49. Zollverein Assembly of members called the Zoll parliament
Unanimous consent for changes
Uniform tariff on all imported goods
Proceeds were divided between the states according to size and population
Raw materials and semi-manufactured good entered the union tax free
Make it rain!!!!!

50. Zollverein 1831 Holland 1844 Britain and Belgium
1840 report for the British Government:
“the general feeling in Germany is that it is the first step towards the Germanisation of the people”
Almost every German state joined (minus Austria)
Initiative came from Prussia, which suggested that they were the natural leader of the German states
The Zollverein acted as a union- assembly

51. What accounts for the rise of Prussian economic and military power?
Germany

52. Prussia 1815 acquisition of the Rhineland- coal and iron
Increase in territory and population- growing market, add to it free internal trade
1841/ km of railway to 2325 km
Prussia owned 57% of all railways in Germany by 1847
Prussian technical expertise and money/official backing to support developments
Ample markets for produce, and the population rise provided labour and markets

53. Prussia Economic growth- basis for military power
However, having an increase in the army is fine- until 1860s there was no opportunity to show its skills
Military planning developed- general staff 9body of highly trained senior officers)
Superior artillery due to Prussian industrial power
The Prussian changes reflected economic changes, but also a strong military tradition and the flexible approach of the Junker class
Widespread support of the Landwehr

55. Why did revolution break out in the German Confederation in 1848
Germany