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14.1 - German Unification

The document discusses the rise of nationalism in Germany, particularly through the actions of Otto Von Bismarck, who utilized military might and political strategy to unify the German states under Prussian dominance. Bismarck's approach involved a series of wars and realpolitik, ultimately leading to the establishment of the German Empire in 1871. The political structure created under Kaiser William I retained significant power with the Kaiser and Bismarck, limiting democratic reforms.

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Aparna Mathur
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18 views15 pages

14.1 - German Unification

The document discusses the rise of nationalism in Germany, particularly through the actions of Otto Von Bismarck, who utilized military might and political strategy to unify the German states under Prussian dominance. Bismarck's approach involved a series of wars and realpolitik, ultimately leading to the establishment of the German Empire in 1871. The political structure created under Kaiser William I retained significant power with the Kaiser and Bismarck, limiting democratic reforms.

Uploaded by

Aparna Mathur
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Topic 14- Nationalism

and the Spread of


Democracy
Essential Question- What are the
challenges of diversity?
14.1- The
Unification of
Germany
Nationalism
• What is nationalism?

Intense pride in/devotion to one’s nation.


Usually occurs between people who share a
common history, language, and culture.

• In Germany, nationalism is
sparked by Napoleon’s
invasions and by the Congress
of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
• At the Congress of Vienna, Prince
Clemens von Metternich of Austria
argued against a unified Germany
because it would have dismantled
existing governments
• Instead, a weak German
Confederation was created,
headed by Austria.

Confederation- a political
unit where individual states
have more power than the
overall government
What do you notice about the
German Confederation?
Prussia vs. Austria-
Hungary
• Prussia and Austria dominated the German
Confederation
• Prussia had many advantages that allowed it to
become a unified state:
• Primarily German Ethnic Groups in Austria-Hungary
• Powerful army
• More industrialized
• Austria-Hungary, on the other
hand, had a difficult time
unifying:
• Many different ethnicities
• Lacked prosperity
Otto Von Bismarck
• Otto Von Bismarck was the only one
able to succeed in creating a unified
Germany
• Prussian diplomat in France and Russia,
named Prime Minister of Prussia under
King William (Wilhelm) I
• Becomes Chancellor of a unified
Germany in 1871
Blood and Iron
• Bismarck’s strategy to create a unified
German people is one of “blood and Realpolitik-
iron” realistic politics
• Blood- military might/war based on the
• Iron- industry (to create military
weapons)
needs of the state
• Bismarck was also a master of
Realpolitik, willing to do
whatever was necessary to
accomplish his goals
• Ironically, Bismarck was not a
German nationalist- he wanted to
unify Germany to secure Prussian
dominance
Powerful Military
• Bismarck’s first step was to create a
powerful Prussian Army.
• However, the Prussian legislature refused
to provide him with funding for his army.
Bismarck responded by simply taking
money that had been collected for other
purposes.

The ends justify the means


• The End- a well-trained and well-armed
Prussian army
• The Means- taking money set aside for
other things to fund the army
Bismarck’s Army
• Over the next decade, Bismarck’s army fights
three wars that result in German unity under
a Prussian Ruler
• The first battle is over the Danish provinces
of Schleswig and Holstein
• Bismarck formed an alliance with Austria to
“liberate” the two heavily German provinces
from Denmark
• Prussia gets Schleswig, Austria gets Holstein
War with Austria (1866)
• Bismarck invents an excuse to
attack Austria, and after 7 weeks
of fighting the superior Prussian
army wins
• The weak Austrian-led German
Confederation is dissolved and
Bismarck establishes a Prussian
dominated confederation in its
place
• But Bismarck is smart, and Austria
remains independent....why?
Franco-Prussian War
(1870)
• France was concerned with the Prussian win over Austria
• Germans recalled the invasions of Napoleon Bonaparte, and Bismarck
played up the image of the “French menace” to ignite German
nationalism
• Then Bismarck sparked war by tampering with the records of a meeting
between Prussian King William I and a French Ambassador, making it
look like William I had insulted the French. The ends justify the
• France declares war, and loses to the means...
Germans in a few short weeks
German Empire
• After France’s defeat, the
Germans convince Prussia’s
King William I to take the
title of Kaiser (emperor). This
begins the Second Reich
(empire).

• 1st Reich- Holy Roman


Empire

• 2nd Reich- Kaiser William I


(Chancellor Bismarck)

• 3rd Reich- Adolf Hitler


Limited Reforms
• Under Kaiser Bundesrat Reichstag
William I,
Germany set up Upper house- members Lower house- elected by
a 2-house appointed by rulers of the universal male suffrage
Legislature: German States

• The Bundesrat could veto the


Reichstag’s votes at any time.
Therefore, power really just
stayed with the Kaiser and his
Chancellor- Otto Von Bismarck
• What’s wrong with this set up?
Does it remind you of a similar
situation in France?
The Iron Chancellor
• As Chancellor, Bismarck used the same
realpolitik methods he used to achieve
unification the ends justify the means
• He worked to erase local loyalties and
crushed all opposition to the new
government, especially the Catholic
Church and the Socialists
• This earned him the nickname
“The Iron Chancellor”

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