1. Growing Prussian Economic Strength Growing Prussian economic strength was a major reason behind German unification. It could be argued that the Prussian economy was the ‘engine’ – i.e. the strength and driving force behind unification. The economic dominance of Prussia led to military dominance, which in time would lead to political dominance.

2. The growth of Prussian Industry ► By the 1850s Prussia was leading the economic development of the German states. By then, the German states produced 14 million tonnes of coal, compared to Austria’s 2 million tonnes. Over twice as much pig iron was produced in the German states than in Austria and the German states had over 5,800 km of railways, compared to 1,500 km in Austria. ► This was to have major implications for German unification in the 1860s. The Prussians were able to mobilise their troops very quickly at the start of the Austro-Prussian War in 1866. In 1870, when the Franco Prussian War broke out, the Prussians were able to mobilise quickly and invade France, as they had four railway lines to the front, compared with France’s one.

3. The Rhineland ► The Rhineland became part of Prussia in 1815, after the defeat of Napoleon. ► The discovery of raw materials (mostly coal and iron) in the Rhineland and the Saarland was exploited by Prussia. ► The problem of how to transport raw materials from the Rhineland to the factories of Berlin and the rest of Prussia led directly to the formation of the Zollverein.

4. The Zollverein ► There is some debate about whether the Zollverein was a political union or purely an economic one, but there is no doubt that it strengthened the links between Prussia and the rest of the German states. ► The Zollverein contributed to the growth of Prussian railways, which transported people, as well as raw materials from state to state, tightening the bonds between the German states and, arguably, making unification more likely. ► The Zollverein expanded in the 1850s to include all but four (including Austria) of the German states by 1854.

5. Good Quotes: ► By the 1850s, the Prussian economy had outstripped that of Austria. ‘This would have far reaching POLITICAL, MILITARY and ECONOMIC consequences for both powers’ – McGonigle. ► Bismarck believed that it would be ‘iron and blood’ which united the German states. ► J. M. Keynes argues that unification was due more to ‘coal and iron’.