Nationalism in 19 th Century Europe and the Unification of Germany

1. Nationalism in 19th Century Europe and the Unification of Germany

7. Prussia • After the Napoleonic war a series of reforms were enacted. • Baron Stein introduced a series of reforms. • Soldiers of all ranks could be officers. • Property could be exchanged by classes. • Serfdom was abolished.

8. Early German Nationalism • The German states first felt a strong sense of nationalism when they were occupied by Napoleon in the early 1800 hundreds. • During the Congress of Vienna the German states were not united, but Prussia was given land along the Rhine. • The Goal of the Congress of Vienna was “Balance of Power.” A united Germany would upset this delicate system.

9. Germany from 1815 – 1848 • Nationalistic ideals were maintained and expanded upon in the universities. • The key idea was Volksgeist • At universities students formed clubs dedicated to German nationalism. • Soon these movements became increasingly radical • In 1819 a student murdered a pro-Russian German named “Kotzebue.” • In response the 1819 Carlsbad Decree banned all student clubs associated with nationalism.

10. Germany from 1815 - 1848 • The creation of the tariff union, Zollverein broke down trade barriers among all the German states. • German nationalists watched in the 1820s as nationalist movements sprung up throughout Europe and the world • Greece • Spain • Latin America • Italy

12. 1848 • Is a year when thirty years of nationalist agitation exploded.

14. 1848 • In March of 1848 most of the political institutions in Central Europe collapsed with incredible swiftness. • It began in the Austrian Empire when the Hungarian parliament declared independence. • Students rose in protest in Vienna and Metternich resigns. • On March 15th students in Berlin begin rioting for a constitution. Frederick William IV of Prussia grants it.

15. The Frankfurt Assembly • The assembly met in May 1848 - May 1849 with the goal of united German state. • The goal was to make a constitutional, liberal German state. • The main obstacle was 39 individual German states. • Austria also opposed any unification. • Prussia is indifferent to German liberalism.

16. Frankfurt Assembly • Ultimately the Assembly failed due to competing interests. • Prussia, Austria, and small German states • It highlighted the limits of Nationalism. • William IV did not want to incorporate Prussia into a democratic state. • Tensions between reformers and businessmen. • Riots broke out in September of 1848 at the inaction of the Assembly.

18. Consequences of Frankfurt’s failure • One key lesson was learned. If Germany was to unite and get Prussia on board it CANNOT have liberal ideals. • Many liberal statesmen leave their German state for America. • The idea of a united Germany remains.

19. Germany in the 1850s • Industrial output rose six fold in the following decades in both Prussia and the German states. • By 1870 Prussia and the German states output overtook France. • Prussia became concerned over its weakening influence in European politics as seen in the Crimean War (1853 – 1856). • In 1850 the Prussian constitution is introduced and Prussia has its first parliament.

20. Bismarck • A Prussian rural nobleman. • He is a proud Prussian, he viewed western Germany with suspicion. • He liked three things: duty, social order, and fear of god. • He began considering a untied Germany, but only if it strengthened Prussia.

21. Bismarck in the 1860s • From 1862 – 1866 Bismarck crushed his liberal opponents in Prussian parliament. He often circumvented parliament. • Bismarck began a campaign to build up the Prussian army. • Bismarck argued that Prussian needed to expand its borders for safety purposes. He declared: “Not by speeches and majority votes are the great questions of the day decided – that was the great error of 1848 and 1849 – but by blood and iron.”

22. RealPolitik • Bismarck mastered this diplomatic tactic • Alliance are formed out of convenience, not ideology (anyone can be your friend). • Enemies can become friends and then become enemies again. • Diplomacy is a step by step affair, not a long term process. • It is very opportunistic.

24. 1866 War with Austria • Austria and Prussia go to war over Prussian seizure of Schleswig and Holstein. • Bismarck isolates Austria. • Russia remains neutral in exchange for assistance in putting down polish rebels. • Bismarck offers Italy Venetia. Italy joins Prussia. • France is unable to organize due to internal weaknesses.

27. The North German Confederation

28. The North German Confederation • William IV is named the head monarch of this new union. The Prussian (conservative) constitution is extended to these regions. • There are two chambers in the government. The upper Senate represented the states (officials are appointed). • The Lower chamber (Reichstag) is elected by universal male suffrage.

29. The Franco-Prussian War of 1871 • France under Louis Napoleon III is not happy with this new German state. • French officials begin reaching out to the southern German states. • In 1870 Spain offered Prince Leopold of the Hohenzollern house the Spanish crown. • Leopold was the cousin of William IV. • Leopold declined four times. • French officials go to Germany and demand the Hohenzollern house swears to never accept the Spanish crown. (Ems dispatch)

30. Franco-Prussian War • German were outraged at Louis Napoleon II’s demands. • Napoleon decides to “punish” Germany and he declares war on July 19th, 1870. • Bismarck had made sure to once again isolate his opponent • Britain felt France had been wrong to go to war over a trivial matter. • Bismarck offered Italy the right to seize Rome. • Bismarck told Russia to violate the peace treaty of 1856 and put ships in the black sea. • Austria-Hungary was too afraid to engage in war.

33. The Course of the War • September 2nd, 1870 France loses the battle of Sedan (on the border). The bulk of the French army surrenders. Napoleon III was taken prisoner. • For the next four months Paris was surrounded and under siege. • Inhabitants were starved and forced to eat shoe leather.

35. Peace with France • Germany forced an extremely harsh peace treaty on France on May 10th, 1871. • Demanded 5 billion gold francs in war indemnities (unheard of). • France had to secede Alsace and Lorraine. • France had to accept the incorporation of the South German states into Germany.

37. Germany Ascendant • From 1871 – 1890 German foreign policy was shaped by Bismarck. • Bismarck would operate with the Reichstag when he had majority support, and he would act alone when he did not. • Bismarck usually allied with the conservatives, but occasionally butted heads with them. • Especially when he introduced social insurance • Beginning in 1878 Bismarck launched a wave of anti-socialist laws.

38. German Foreign Policy 1870 -1890 • Under Bismarck Germany made strong efforts to ally with all states, except France. • In 1879 Bismarck created the Triple Alliance with Italy (1882), and Austria-Hungary. • He also signed a “reassurance” treaty with Russia over the Balkans. • Bismarck set up the Berlin conference to seem like the arbitrator of peace.

39. Kaiser Wilhelm II • Kaiser Wilhelm I passed away in 1888. • Wilhelm II took the throne at the age of 29. He believes Bismarck is an “old fogy.” • After months of quarrelling Wilhelm II dismisses Bismarck in 1890. • German foreign policy now becomes more aggressive. • Wilhelm wants more colonies. • He wants the world’s largest army. • He wants to assert his authority

40. Germany policy 1890 - 1914 • Germany industries continued to grow at an accelerating rate. • The German military swelled in numbers as Wilhelm II introduced a mandatory three years of compulsory military service. • Wilhelm II breaks up his treaty with Russia. Russia responds by signing an alliance with France in 1894. • The German navy began an arms race with Britain in 1898 • Kaiser Wilhelm begins “Sabor rattling.”