Germany
In the early 1800s, Germans lived in a number of small states, including Prussia and the Austrian Hapsburg empire. Between 1806-1812, Napoleon made many changes to the German states. He dissolved the Holy Roman Empire and organized several German states into the Rhine Confederation. Even though Germans liked Napolean at first, they started to fight to free their lands from the French. They also demanded a united German state. Even though Napolean was defeated, the Germans still did not get a united state. This is because at the congress of Vienna, people realized that unifying Germany would mean dismantling the government of each state. They decided to create the German Confederation, which is an alliance ruled by Austria. In the 1830s, Prussia created an economic union called the Zollverein, which abolished the tariffs between the German states. In 1848 at the Frankfurt Assembly, liberals demanded a German political union again. Even though they were unsuccessful, one would succeed.
Otto von Bismarck came from Prussia's Junker class, which was made up of conservative landowning nobles. He first served Prussia as a diplomat and in 1862 was made prime minister. Within a decade, Bismarck had became the chancellor of a united Germany. Bismarck's success was partially because of his mastery of Realpolitik, which is realistic politics based on the state's needs. Power was more important then principles. As the prime minister, Bismarck first wanted to strengthen the military. Since the legislature refused to pay to fund the army, Bismarck used money from other purposes. With a powerful army behind him, Bismarck would fight three wars, which would help increase Prussian power and German unity.
Bismarck first wanted to create an alliance with Austria, so the two seized Denmark's provinces of Schleswig, which Prussia claimed, and Holstein, which Austria claimed, together. In 1866, the Austro-Prussian war took place for seven weeks. The Prussians won and took control of several other northern German states. Bismarck also dissolved the Austrian controlled German Confederation and created a new confederation controlled by Prussia. A growing rivalry between France and Prussia led to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Bismarck used the negative image of Napolean to spread German nationalism. He also used propaganda to make is seem like Willian I insulted France, which made Napolean declare war. Prussia dominated and within weeks, Napolean surrendered.
Thrilled with a victory over France, German princes made William I of Prussia take the title of kaiser, or emperor. The Germans celebrated their second Reich, or empire, since they considered it the successor to the Holy Roman Empire. A constitution written by Bismarck set up a two-house legislature. The Bundesrat, or upper house, was appointed by the rulers of the German states. The Reichstag, or lower house, was elected by male voters. However, since the Bundesrat could veto the Reichstag, the power remained with the emperor and chancellor, not the people.
Otto von Bismarck came from Prussia's Junker class, which was made up of conservative landowning nobles. He first served Prussia as a diplomat and in 1862 was made prime minister. Within a decade, Bismarck had became the chancellor of a united Germany. Bismarck's success was partially because of his mastery of Realpolitik, which is realistic politics based on the state's needs. Power was more important then principles. As the prime minister, Bismarck first wanted to strengthen the military. Since the legislature refused to pay to fund the army, Bismarck used money from other purposes. With a powerful army behind him, Bismarck would fight three wars, which would help increase Prussian power and German unity.
Bismarck first wanted to create an alliance with Austria, so the two seized Denmark's provinces of Schleswig, which Prussia claimed, and Holstein, which Austria claimed, together. In 1866, the Austro-Prussian war took place for seven weeks. The Prussians won and took control of several other northern German states. Bismarck also dissolved the Austrian controlled German Confederation and created a new confederation controlled by Prussia. A growing rivalry between France and Prussia led to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870. Bismarck used the negative image of Napolean to spread German nationalism. He also used propaganda to make is seem like Willian I insulted France, which made Napolean declare war. Prussia dominated and within weeks, Napolean surrendered.
Thrilled with a victory over France, German princes made William I of Prussia take the title of kaiser, or emperor. The Germans celebrated their second Reich, or empire, since they considered it the successor to the Holy Roman Empire. A constitution written by Bismarck set up a two-house legislature. The Bundesrat, or upper house, was appointed by the rulers of the German states. The Reichstag, or lower house, was elected by male voters. However, since the Bundesrat could veto the Reichstag, the power remained with the emperor and chancellor, not the people.
Otto von Bismarck
"Germany does not look to Prussia's liberalism, but to her power... The great questions of the day are not to be decided by speeches and majority resolutions- that was the mistake of 1848 and 1849- but by blood and iron!" This is a quote from Otto von Bismarck, who united Germany, in 1862. He was trying to convince legislators to vote for money to build up the army. The legislators ended up giving Bismarck the money, which was worth it because the German army defeated Denmark, Austria, and France, which helped Germany expand.
This video shows the events that led up to the German unification and what happened after. Germany started out as many seperate states and with the help of Otto von Bismark united into a powerful country. Without Bismarck, Germany would not have united the way it did and became as powerful as it was.