Content: Part of Syllabus:

1. Unification of Germany GS 1: Topic 4: World History : History of the world

a. Timeline will include events from 18th century such as
b. Background industrial revolution, world wars, redrawal of
c. Impediments to German national boundaries, colonization, decolonization,
Unification political philosophies like communism, capitalism,
d. Factors leading to German socialism etc.— their forms and effect on the
society.
Unification
e. Process of German Unification
f. How Bismarck unified Germany?
g. How ‘Coal and Iron’ fueled
Bismarck’s ‘Blood and Iron’?
h. Implication of German unification
2. Unification of Italy
a. Timeline
b. Background
c. Impediments to Italian
Unification
d. Factors leading to Italian
Unification
e. Process of Italian Unification
f. Significance of Italian unification

UNIFICATION OF GERMANY-
Timeline of German Unification

Background

Although feudalism had disappeared in Germany in 15th century, it could not become a united nation
until second half of 19th century. In the 18th century, Germany was divided into around 300 states.

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During the Napoleonic wars many of these states were merged. By 1815, however, there were still 38
independent German states which needed to be unified.

Impediments to German Unification-

• The 38 independent German states that existed in 1815 were reluctant to give up their politico-
administrative system and to unite under a common federation.
• Division based on Religion- Northern states generally followed Catholic Christianism, while
southern states generally followed Protestant Christianism.
• Rivalry between Prussia and Austria for the dominance over German states.
• Other countries didn't want Germany to become a nation. As this would disturb the Balance of
Power in Europe.

Factors leading to German Unification-

Economic Factors • Division of Germany into many states restricted the free
movement of goods & capital and thus hampered its economic
growth.
• Economic unification of the German states, which began with
formation of Zollverein Customs Union in 1832 provided impetus
to political unification.
• Austria, France and Denmark wanted to exploit the rich natural
resources of German states. Thus, a need was felt to oppose
these tendencies.
Political Factors • With the growth of nationalism, particularly after the French
revolution, the people of these states started demanding the
national unification of Germany.
• The socio-political system of Germany was backward. The
landlords, called Junkers, dominated the affairs of the state.
• Napoleonic Wars and formation of ‘Confederation of the Rhine’
greatly reduced the division among the German states.
Social Factors • Cultural and linguistic affinity among the German states
• The idea of German nationalism spread due to social activities of
Burschenschaft (societies of students), which were formed in
early 19th century.

Process of German Unification-

In the 18th Century • Around 300 independent German states existed

After Napoleon Wars • Napoleon forcefully merged many German states into a
‘Confederation of the Rhine’. The confederation was

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 dissolved and in 1815 there were still 38 independent states
in Germany. The important among them were Prussia,
Wurttemberg, Bavaria and Saxony.
Formation of German • In 1815, German states along with Austria were organized
Confederation in 1815. into a ‘German Confederation’.
• However, the confederation largely failed because-
o Rivalry between Prussia and Austria
o Each state tried to preserve its independence and its
oppressive socio-political system.
Economic Unification of • The economic unification of Germany began with Tariff
German states and the Reform Law of 1818 which created a customs union of some
formation of Zollverein of the German states.
• This union was joined by other German states leading to
formation of German Customs Union called Zollverein in
1832, under the leadership of Prussia.
• Formation of Zollverein resulted in abolishment of all internal
tariffs and free flow of trade among the participant states.
Revolutions of 1848 • In 1848, revolutions occurred in all the German states
demanding unification under a national government and
grant of democratic reforms.
• To fulfill these demands, a Constituent Assembly met in
Frankfurt. The Frankfurt Assembly proposed the unification
of Germany as a constitutional monarchy under the king of
Prussia. But the king of Prussia declined the offer.
• Repressions soon followed and the revolutions of 1848 failed
to unify Germany. However, this intensified the spirit of
liberalism and nationalism in Germany.
Unification of Germany • Otto Von Bismarck, the Prime Minister of Prussia decided to
through Bismarck’s Blood achieve the unification of Germany through a militaristic
and Iron Policy approach, under the leadership of Prussian monarchy.
• His policy of unification is called the policy of ‘Blood and
Iron’, which meant the policy of war.

How Bismarck unified Germany through his policy of Blood and Iron-

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 War against Denmark • In 1864, Bismarck formed an alliance with Austria and went
(1864) into a war against Denmark for the possession of Schleswig
and Holstein.
• Denmark was defeated. Austria took the control over
Holstein and Prussia over Schleswig.

Austro-Prussian War or • Bismarck wanted to eliminate Austria from the German

Seven Weeks’ War (1866) Confederation. So, he aligned with Italy in a war against
Austria.
• Austria was defeated and German Confederation was
dissolved. Austria was thus separated from the German
states.
• Schleswig and Holstein were annexed into the Prussian
kingdom through the Treaty of Prague (signed b/w Prussia
and Austria)
Formation of ‘North German • In 1866, Bismarck united all the 22 states of northern
Confederation’ Germany into a North German Confederation.
• The constitution of this confederation made the king of
Prussia the hereditary head of confederation.
Franco-Prussian War (1870- • In 1870, Louis Bonaparte of France declared war on Prussia
71) to strengthen his power through a military victory. He was
partially provoked by Bismarck.
• France was defeated, which enabled Bismarck to absorb the
remaining German states into a united Germany.
• The Unification of Germany was finally completed.

How ‘Coal and Iron’ fueled Bismarck’s ‘Blood and Iron’?

Bismarck could unify German states under the leadership of Prussia only because of economic progress
that Prussia enjoyed as a result of formation of Zollverein and control over rich Coal & Iron reserves of
Rhineland.

• In the Congress of Vienna (1815), Prussia was given control over the coal and iron producing
areas of the Rhineland and mineral rich Ruhr and Saar.
• The availability of coal & iron and other minerals, and the formation of Zollverein resulted in
rapid industrialization & economic growth of Prussia in the 1850s.
• The resultant Economic strength permitted the establishment of a strong military force. This
strong military force then allowed Bismarck to unite Germany by ‘blood and iron’.

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Implications of German unification-

• Germany emerged as a strong power in Europe.

• It became the second largest and second most populous state in Europe, after Russia.
• It underwent heavy industrialization and great economic progress within a short period.
• With rapid industrialization and economic growth, Germany acquired great military strength.
• The period of autocracies and privileged aristocracies gradually came to an end.
• There was a gradual growth of political democracy i.e. increasing participation of common man
in the political affairs of the country.
• It soon joined the fight for capture of colonies, further intensifying colonization.

UNIFICATION OF ITALY
Timeline of Italian Unification

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Background

In the early 19th century Italy was divided into several states. The major among them were Sardinia,
Lombardy, Venetia, Kingdom of the Two Sicilies (Sicily and Naples), Papal States, Tuscany, Parma and
Modena. Lombardy and Venetia were under Austrian occupation and the rest were ruled by
independent kings. The most powerful among all Italian states was the kingdom of Sardinia.

Impediments to Italian Unification

• Italy faced two main obstacles to unity. First was to free two northern states of Lombardy and
Venetia which were under Austrian occupation.
• The second was to unify independent Italian states into a single nation.
• Naples and Sicily were under the control of Bourbon dynasty of France.
• French army had stayed in Rome since 1849 to protect the Pope who ruled the city.
• The interference of pope and other powers prevented Italy from being unified.
• The northern Italian states were economically more progressive than the southern states, which
created economic disparity between the two regions.

Factors leading to Italian Unification

Economic Factors • Division of Italy in multiple states hindered free movement

of goods and capital which led to subpar economic growth.

Political Factors • Nationalism: The rise of Italian nationalism, especially after

French revolution and invasion of Italian states by Napoleon.
o Napoleon conquered the Italian states and made
them a part of French Empire. This helped in
imbibing the ideas of liberty, fraternity and
nationalism among Italian people.
• The Carbonari Secret Societies, that were active in Italy
between 1800 to 1831, encouraged & aroused people to
fight against the foreign rule and to fight for the
establishment of a constitutional nationalist government.

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 Social Factors • Linguistic and cultural affinity among Italian states.
• In the 18th and 19th centuries, many campaigns were
organized in Italy for the spread of Italian as the
lingua franca of common people.
• Rise of a strong enlightened middle class as a result of trade
with the East. The idea of a united Italy caught the
imagination of this middle class.
• The enlightened intellectuals promoted the idea of Italian
humanism and liberalism. This helped in the growth of
Italian nationalism.
• These intellectuals mostly wrote in Italian language, which
helped in the diffusion of this language.

Process of Italian Unification

Mazzini and Young Italy • Guiseppe Mazzini founded the Young Italy movement in
Movement (1831) 1831 to promote the spirit of Italian nationalism.
• The movement aimed at independence of Italian states and
their unification under a republic.
• It was to be achieved by promoting a popular uprising in
Italian states and Austrian Empire.
• The most famous member of Young Italy was Giuseppe
Garibaldi.

Revolution of 1848 • In 1848 revolutionary uprisings broke out in Italy and the
rulers were forced to grant certain democratic reforms to
the people.
• The kingdom of Sardinia introduced many political reforms
after the revolts.
• Although the revolutions failed to unify Italy.

Unification under Count • Count Cavour, the prime minister of Sardinia decided to
Cavour unify Italy under the leadership of Sardinia.
• His policy of unification was similar to that of Bismarck.

War against Austria (1859) • In 1859, Cavour entered into an alliance with Louis
and occupation of Lombardy Bonaparte of France and went into a war against Austria.
by Sardinia

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 • Austria was defeated and Lombardy was annexed by
Sardinia.
• Consequently, Papal, Tuscany, Parma and Modena states of
north also joined Sardinia

Annexation of Venetia (1866) • Sardinia annexed the province of Venetia after Austrian
defeat in Austro-Prussian war of 1866.
Garibaldi’s revolutionary • An uprising broken out in the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies.
forces occupied the states of Garibaldi marched into the island of Sicily with his
Sicilies (Naples and Sicily) revolutionary fighters (known as Red Shirts) and liberated it.
• Thereafter, he marched to Naples in support of a revolt that
had already broken out there. By the end Of November
1860, the entire Kingdom of the Two Sicilies had been
liberated by the revolutionaries.

King of Sardinia became the • Revolutionaries surrendered the kingdom of two Sicilies to
King of Italy the King of Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel II, who then took the
title of King of Italy in 1861.

Annexation of Rome • Rome was ruled over by the Pope with the help of the
French soldiers provided to him by Louis Bonaparte.
• After the defeat of France in Franco-Prussian War of 1870-
71, French forces were forced to leave Rome.
• Italian soldiers then occupied the city of Rome in 1870, and
in July 1871, Rome became the capital of united Italy.
• The process of Italian Unification was finally completed, and
it became a monarchy.

Italy- Before and After unification:

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 Implication of Italian unification-

• There was an increasing politicization of the people. Also, the period of autocracies and
privileged aristocracies was gradually coming to an end.
• The process of Italian independence and unification encouraged such movements in other parts
of the world.
• Like Germany, Italy also joined the race for the acquisition of colonies.
• In the subsequent years, the increased competition and envy among the European nation states
culminated in the World War.
• The economic disparity between the northern and southern states widened.

Mains Practice Questions

Q1. The Unification of Germany was more a result of ‘Coal and Iron’ than ‘Blood and Iron’. Discuss

Q2. Explain how the economic unification of Germany was a prelude to its political unification.

Q3. Throw light on the roles played by Guiseppe Mazzini and Giuseppe Garibaldi in the unification of
Italy.

Bibliography:

• Old NCERT Arjun Dev

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• A concise history of modern Europe –David Mason
• ForumIAS CGP

This document has been created by ForumIAS Academy, 19, IAPL House, PUSA Road,Karol Bagh 110005, New Delhi.