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GERMANY 1815- 1862 The Unification of Germany

GERMANY 1815- 1862 The Unification of Germany. Europe 1815

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GERMANY 1815- 1862

The Unification of Germany

Europe 1815

Key Questions

What was Germany like before 1815?

How was Germany affected by the Vienna settlement?

What was the impact of Nationalism on the Germanic states?

What was the significance of the Zollverein?

What accounts for the rise of Prussian economic and military power?

Germany before 1815

German speaking language- no corresponding territory to call “Germany”- most German speaking people were part of the Holy Roman Empire

Ancient Empire- ruled by the Hapsburgs

A collection of lands whose rulers owed allegiance to the Holy Roman Emperors (who were Austrian)

A bewildering variety of tiny states ruled by margraves, dukes, princes, electors, etc…

Germany before 1815

Most significant state within the empire was Brandenburg-Prussia (north east)- ruled by the Hohenzollerns (Prussians)

Saxony

Bavaria

Baden

Wurttemberg

Germany before 1815

1792- 250 states linked by language and membership of the HRE

The HRE did not ‘rule’ in any temporal sense

The people of the Germanic lands owed allegiance to their rulers- fierce loyalty- therefore localist and not nationalist

Some German state ruled over non-Germans- Prussia and Poles, Austria ruled many

No religious uniformity due to the reformation (1517)- split between Catholics and Protestants (Peace of Augsburg 1555)

Most Germans were involved in agriculture and small industries- one big city (Vienna) and one major port (Hamburg)

Italy vs. Germany

Discuss whether it seemed more likely in 1815 that Germany or Italy would seek unification?

Leading Powers

Prussia- included small territories separated from each other

Brandenburg- Hohenzollerns (electors of Prussia)

Upper class supporters- Junkers (jung+Herr= young lord)

Junkers ruled over their lands and peasants but gave service to the state

“Iron and Rye”

Prussia

Held their own courts on their lands, influential in the military and civil service

Sign of a junker was the use of “von” in their names- Otto von Bismarck- Schonhausen

Effective administration- Frederick II (The Great), large powerful army (Napoleon’s tactics were developed with Frederick’s in mind)

Prussia

Eastern provinces- economically poor, poor soil in Brandenburg, the estates in the east had no modern farming techniques

18th century Prussian tradition/culture- service to the state, hard work, religious devotion, respect for the army and the monarch

“Parade ground of Europe”

Austria

Austria

Most influential empire in continental Europe (1815- 1848)

1.5 million Czechs, 3.3. million Magyars, Slovaks, Croats, Italians, Poles, Romanians, Ruthenes, Serbs, Slovenes and Belgians

Official language and culture- German

Technically ruled all of Germany (not Prussia) through the HRE

History and Hindsight…too much?

Source A:The century towards which the Hapsburgs

were moving was to see the gradual triumphs of two concepts: democracy and nationalism. Each was in itself a threat to the survival of the dynasty. When the two joined hands, any hope of stability…was doomed.

Brook Shepherd, G. 1997. The Austrians. London, UK. HarperCollins. P. 30

The Impact of Napoleon

Prussia was concerned about the risk of the French Revolution to its monarchy, therefore joins Austria

Napoleon conquered much of German speaking central Europe- Prussia and Austria remained independent

1806 HRE was abolished- Confederation of the Rhine took its place

The Impact of Napoleon

Larger states were allowed to take over smaller ones

Napoleonic rule produced major changes to German lands- no more HRE, introduction of small church states and free cities and the consolidation of many small states- 19th century Germany would be less complex

In response to French rule- patriotic resistance emerged- see “The German Fatherland”

Prussian Reforms

1807 serfdom abolished Nobles were allowed to trade Rich, non-nobles could acquire land Military liberalism- promotion by merit Conscription (Landwehr 1814) Parliamentary government- dominated by

nobles

These changes brought greater unity and simplified laws and justice

HOW WAS GERMANY AFFECTED BY THE VIENNA

SETTLEMENT?

Germany 1815- 1862

Congress of Vienna

Priority- protect Europe against France and maintain old monarchies

Changes in German lands meant there was no way to restore the hundreds of small states- 39 new states emerged

Confederation of 39 states headed by princes and kings oversaw by Austria called the Bund (confederation/league)

Vienna terms on German Lands

Bund assembly called the Diet- 17 members- Austria was a permanent member- representatives spoke on behalf of their states not as a ‘nation’

Prussia gain land west of the German states on both sides of the Rhine- barrier to French expansion

The Rhineland was full of coal and iron ore

Prussia lost land in Poland

The Bund would crush any form of German nationalism

FORCES FOR CHANGE AFTER 1815LIBERALISM AND NATIONALISM

Germany 1815- 1862

Economic Growth

Source A: Wells, Mike. Unification of Italy and Germany. 2013. Cambridge, UK. Cambridge University Press. P. 115

“It (Germany) had a rising population with more people living in cities. Its growing middle class was well educated…Economic growth was transforming central Germany as a whole and Prussia in particular. All these developments indicate that future changes to the Vienna settlement were likely. “

Economic Growth

Cities grew, populations grew, new industrial techniques, modern farming methods and new transportation methods (train, canal)

Regions experiencing rapid growth- best resources: metal ore, coal, power, markets and technical knowledge

Germany- Prussia was able to grow due to this however Austria remained agricultural and static

Forces Opposing Change in 1815

German confederation- ruled by Kings and Princes who favored their own interests

Austria and Russia

Conservative, traditional peasantry and small town merchants

Local traditions- religion, distrust of bigger states by smaller

Linguistic and cultural gap between north and south

National unity associated with French rule (resentment of conscription and other Napoleonic measures

Grossdeutschland and Kleindeutschland

WHAT WAS THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GROWTH OF NATIONALISM?

Germany 1815- 1862

Nationalism

3 different forms:- Official organizations and supporters of greater unity- Cultural elements that brought Germany closer together- Economic factors that encouraged unification

Gymnastics Clubs (1811) Address to the German Nation (1807- 1808) The Spirit of the Age (1806)

Anti-Semitism elements- many of the literary nationalists were appalled by revolutionary ideas from France

Student Nationalism

Most enthusiastic supporters were students- liberal and nationalist ideas- based on leading university towns

1817 Wartburg (Festival) Castle

Saxe-Weimar- ruled by a constitutional ruler

1819 Karl Sand assassinated August von Kotzebue (playwright- attacked nationalists and was supported by Russia))

Student Nationalism

This was not widespread nationalism- more student activism…however…

Metternich convinced the Bund to pass the Carlsbad Decrees (see handout)

“a word spoken by Austria is an unbreakable law for Germany”

Very successful laws- The Prussians in particular enjoyed this power over its citizens

Then came the rebellions of the 1830s

Student Nationalism

1830 revolution in France- triggered disturbances in Poland, Italy and Germany- constitutional demands, peasant unrest and worker discontent

1832 25,000 nationalists marched to the castle of Handbach (Bavaria)- King of Bavaria sent in the army- caused fear throughout Germany

Six articles and Ten Acts passed by Austria- supreme suppression of nationalist thoughts- even banned the ‘national flag’

The 39 states were expected to co-operate in the repression of national unrest

Subterranean Nationalism

After 1832 all nationalist activity took place secretly/private meetings

Disguised as Gymnastics Clubs or Musical Societies- 1847 85,000 members of Gymnastics clubs

100,000 singing club members- patriotic songs- historical festivals- Arminius (Mythical leader of the German tribes that defeated the Romans)

Regardless it wasn’t until 1859 that a nationalist association (Nationalverein) existed (no leading figure like Mazzini)

Therefore nationalism took on the form of patriotic sentiment rather than a movement for nation building

Cultural Nationalism

More important than nationalist expression- cultural appreciation of a Germanic type

Greater awareness of “GERMAN” culture among the middle class- independent craftsmen, academics and businessmen

The peasants…didn’t flock to opera so its likely they didn’t experience any of this patriotic sentiment- no time to go on nationalist walking tours

German Renaissance

Rediscovery of German folklore- Brothers Grimm

Literary romanticism of Goethe and Schiller

German music developed a contrasting style to Italian Opera- Wagner (old Germanic legends for inspiration)

Beethoven German history became the standard-

Von Ranke Caspar David Friedrich

WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE

ZOLLVEREIN

Germany 1815- 1862

Zollverien

1818 Prussian tariff reform law- all raw materials were free from tariffs and within Prussian territories, all internal customs and duties were abolished (liberal)

Free trade within the largest state in Germany- therefore other neighboring states wished to join to trade freely with Prussia

Formal agreement in 1834- 17 states and 26 million people- Austria was never a member

Zollverein

Assembly of members called the Zoll parliament

Unanimous consent for changes Uniform tariff on all imported goods Proceeds were divided between the states

according to size and population Raw materials and semi-manufactured good

entered the union tax free

Make it rain!!!!!

Zollverein

1831 Holland 1844 Britain and Belgium

1840 report for the British Government: “the general feeling in Germany is that it is the first step

towards the Germanisation of the people”

Almost every German state joined (minus Austria)

Initiative came from Prussia, which suggested that they were the natural leader of the German states

The Zollverein acted as a union- assembly

WHAT ACCOUNTS FOR THE RISE OF PRUSSIAN ECONOMIC AND

MILITARY POWER?

Germany 1815- 1862

Prussia

1815 acquisition of the Rhineland- coal and iron

Increase in territory and population- growing market, add to it free internal trade

1841/1847 375 km of railway to 2325 km

Prussia owned 57% of all railways in Germany by 1847

Prussian technical expertise and money/official backing to support developments

Ample markets for produce, and the population rise provided labour and markets

Prussia

Economic growth- basis for military power

However, having an increase in the army is fine- until 1860s there was no opportunity to show its skills

Military planning developed- general staff 9body of highly trained senior officers)

Superior artillery due to Prussian industrial power

The Prussian changes reflected economic changes, but also a strong military tradition and the flexible approach of the Junker class

Widespread support of the Landwehr

WHY DID REVOLUTION BREAK OUT IN THE GERMAN

CONFEDERATION IN 1848

Germany 1815- 1862