German Unification

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German Unification

• Global History II Chapter 23

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1848 Revolutions Follow Napoleons Path of
Conquest
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Europe 1848
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Europe 2006
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Germany 1815
? Creation of the German Confederation under the
presidency of Austria. Prussia and Austria were
the two most powerful German states.
Traditionally Austria was recognized as the most
important. There was a strong popular movement
for unification but neither Austria nor Prussia
was prepared to allow it happen.
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Otto Von Bismarck The Iron Chancellor1815-189
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Realpolitik

• Realistic Politics based on the needs of the
  state
• Whatever actions necessary to achieve his desired
  goals.
• Power more important than principles
• Blood and Iron Philosophy
• He wanted to eliminate Austrian influence and
  bring about unification on Prussian terms.
• Expand Germanys Economy and Industrial base with
  use of its resources.
• Do not make the same mistakes that were made by
  the French in 1848-1849.

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3 Wars for Unification

• 1st An Austrian-Prussian invasion of
  Schleswig-Holstein led to the end of Danish
  control of these provinces. Prussia gained a lot
  of support especially among German nationalists
  who wanted to see these provinces come under
  German control.
• 2nd Austro-Prussian War results in Prussian
  control (Annexes) of several northern German
  states.
• Dissolved the old confederation and establishes a
  new one dominated by Prussia
• Southern states were left independent, form
  military alliances with Prussia
• 3rd Franco-Prussian War results in the
  completion of German Unification
• William I of Prussia assumes the role of Kaiser,
  or emperor of Germany, with Otto Von Bismarck as
  Chancellor.

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Germany 1871
? The new German Empire emerged as Europes
foremost military power. Prussia dominated this
new German state.
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Meeting at Versailles
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United German States

• Prussia dominated the new Germany that was called
  the Second Reich.
• The new constitution drawn up by Bismarck was a
  Federal system.
• Each of the twenty-five states had considerable
  control over their affairs and decided their own
  form of government e.g. Bavaria and Saxony were
  ruled by kings.
• Under the constitution there were to be three
  branches of the Federal government

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The Presidency

• The Presidency which was held by the King of
  Prussia (as German Emperor). The German Emperor
  had considerable powers. He had personal control
  of the armed forces. He appointed and dismissed
  all ministers including the Chancellor.

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The Federal Council

• The Federal Council (or Bundesrat) represented
  the different states of the Empire. It had
  fifty-eight members. Seventeen were from Prussia,
  six from Bavaria, four from Saxony. It had the
  power to change the constitution. However no
  change could be made to the constitution if
  fourteen delegates objected. This in practice
  meant that Prussia could always stop change.

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The Parliament

• The Parliament or Reichstag was elected by
  Universal Male Suffrage (all males over 25 could
  vote) and Secret Ballot. It voted on the Federal
  budget and its consent was needed for all
  legislation. This was the most advanced system in
  Europe at this time.
• However, the powers of the Reichstag were
  limited
• It could not initiate legislation.
• It had no say in the appointment or dismissal of
  the Chancellor or Imperial ministers. The
  Imperial Chancellor was appointed by the Emperor.
  He was in charge of foreign policy.
• The Kaiser (in effect Bismarck) could dissolve it
  any time with the agreement of the Bundesrat.

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Campaign Against the Church

• Bismarck Distrusts Catholics-especially
  clergy-thought loyalty was with Pope and not
  Germany
• He Launches Kulturkampf or battle for
  civilization
• Laws passed to make Catholics put loyalty of
  state above loyalty to Church
• Other laws would close religious orders, expel
  Jesuits, marriage by civil authority
• Plan BACKFIRES-faithful rally behind Church
• Bismarck makes peace with the Church

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Campaign Against the Socialists

• Threat-Growing power of Socialism (Social
  Democratic Party)
• Parliamentary democracy
• Laws to improve conditions for the working class
• Bismarck dissolves the Party, shuts down
  newspapers, bans meetings
• Plan BACKFIRES again
• To make amends, he sponsors laws to protect
  workers
• Health, accident, old-age insurance, and
  retirement benefits
• Bismarck avoids revolution!!!
• Proves Realpolitik DOES have a social reform
  element

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Bismarcks Foreign Alliances

• Three Emperors League
• 1872 Alliance between Germany, Russia and
  Austria-Hungary.
• Goal of isolating France, who was still upset
  over the loss of Alsace-Lorraine and Revanche to
  Germany
• Triple Alliance
• 1882 When the French occupied Tunisia, Bismarck
  took advantage of Italian resentment towards
  France and created the Triple Alliance between
  Germany, Italy and Austria- Hungary
• In exchange for Italy's agreement to stay neutral
  if war broke out between Austria-Hungary and
  Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary would protect
  Italy from France.
• Reinsurance Treaty
• 1887 Russia and Austria-Hungary grew suspicious
  of each other over conflicts in the Balkans
• Bismarck repaired the damage to his alliances
  with a Reinsurance Treaty with Russia, allowing
  both powers to stay neutral if the other was at
  war.

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Kaiser William II

• Succeeds his Grandfather in 1888
• Dismisses Bismarck in 1890
• He would continue some social welfare programs
  such as cheap transportation, electricity, and
  public schooling
• His main efforts, however, were spent improving
  the German Navy and building an impressive
  overseas empire through aggressive militarism
  rivaling Britain and France
• Bismarcks alliances would fall by the wayside
  and the French would take advantage, eventually
  forming the Triple Entente with Britain and Russia

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World War I Alliances