Building a German Nation

1
Building a German Nation

• Simona Giambrone
• Travis High School

2
Steps toward Unity
3
Impact of Napoleon

• annexed lands along the Rhine River for France
• Dissolved HRE and reorganized German states into
  Rhine confederation
• Made many enlightenment changes, but not
  everybody appreciated that
• Napoleon loses.German Confederation created with
  Austria as head.

4
Prussian Leadership

• 1830s-Prussia created economic union called the
  Zolverein
• purpose was to dismantle tariff barriers b/t
  German states
• 1848Frederick William IV was offered German
  throne but decided to reject it.

5
Otto von Bismarck

• And German Unity

6
Bismark.

• Comes from Prussias Junker class (conservative
  landowning nobles)became
• Became Chancellor in 1862
• United Germany with in ten years.

7
Bismarcks Beliefs

• Realpolitik realistic politics based on the needs
  of the state.
• Power more important than principles
• Not a German nationalist but rather loyal to the
  ruling dynasty in Prussia

8
Bismarcks Goal

• Through unification he hoped to bring more power
  to the Hohenzollerns

9
Bismarck's Leadership

• Build up the Prussian army (but because the
  legislature would not allocate funds, be used
  money allocated for other things.

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Leadership contd..

• Led Prussia in three wars

11

• War with Denmark and Austria
• 1864 made alliance with Austria
• They seized provinces of Schleswig and Holstein
  from Denmark

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• 1866 Bismarck invents a reason to go to war with
  Austria/wins/ and creates new German federation
• BUT does allow Austria to remain independent
  state
• We had to avoid leaving behind any desire for
  revenge.

13

• Franco-Prussian War in 1870 (Napoleon III is in
  power in France)
• Bismarck uses French menace under Napoleon to
  stir up nationalism
• Bismarck tricks the French into declaring war on
  Prussia
• Prussia along with other German states crush
  French who had to accept humiliated peace deal

14
The German Empire

• 1871- William I of Prussia becomes Kaiser and the
  empire becomes known as the Second Reich
• Drafted constitution
• Two house legislature Bundersrat was upper house
  and Reichstag was lower house
• Bundersrat could veto Reichstag so real power was
  in the hands of the Chancellor and the nobles

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Strengthening Germany
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Germany becomes Industrial Giant

• Had resources
• Population explosion many workers
• Promoted education
• Ensured economic development

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The Iron Chancellor
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Bismarcks Foreign Policy Goals

• Keep France weak and isolated while building
  strong links with Austria and Russia
• Respected British naval power but did not wish to
  compete in that arena

19
Bismarcks Domestic Goals

• Sought to erase local loyalties and crush all
  opposition to the imperial state (Germany)
• Target Catholics and Socialists to make sure this
  happened!

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Bismarck vs. The Church

• Catholics were 1/3 of the population
• Bismarck was Lutheran
• Believed Catholics would be more loyal to the
  Pope than to Germany itself
• Launched the Kulturkampf or battle for
  civilization forcing Catholic loyalty to the
  State

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How?

• Passed laws giving the state the right to
  supervise Catholic education and approve of and
  appoint priests
• Passed laws closing some religious orders
• Expelled Jesuits from Prussia
• Made it mandatory for couples to be married by
  civil authority

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Effects

• Actions backfired
• Catholic Center party gained strength in the
  Reichstag
• Bismarck (the realist) realized his mistake and
  tried to make nice with the Church (Realpolitik)

23
Bismarck vs. Socialists

• Feared socialists would undermine the loyalty of
  German workers and turn them toward revolution
• Result was high standard of social reform in
  Germany health insurance, retirement etc.

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Kaiser William II

• Became Kaiser in 1888
• Asks Bismarck to resign
• Saw himself as a divine right ruler so Bismarck
  is a personal threat
• Continued social reforms to certain groups
• Spent huge amounts on the German military

25
Nationalism Threatens Old Empires
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Nationalism unites Germany and Italy

• But,
• Splits Austria and Ottomans

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Austria

• Hapsburgs were oldest ruling family in Europe
• Controlled Bohemia and Hungary
• Ruled parts of Romania, Poland , the Ukraine and
  Italy, but all wanted to be free of Hapsburg rule
  (nationalism)

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• 1867-Hungary works out a deal with Austria called
  a Dual Monarchy
• This means the emperor of Austria still ruled as
  King of Hungary, but Austria and Hungary were
  separate states and could make their own laws
• Gives Hungary a sense of independence
  (nationalism)

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Ottomans

• Ruled huge empire
• Home to Serbs, Greeks, Bulgarians, and Romanians.
• 1800s rebellions begin

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• Serbians win freedom in 1817
• South of Greece freed itself in 1830s
• Indicated weakness in Ottoman Empire so Russia,
  Austria-Hungary, Britain and France all took part
  in wars and changing alliances.
• Ottoman empire is drastically reduced in size and
  power

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Russia Reform and Reaction
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Russia no industrial giant!

• Czars feared change might weaken their control
• Rigid system of social classes blocked progress
• Wealthy nobles owned all farmland and cared
  little about industry
• Middle class too small to have much power

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• Most Russians were serfs (prevented progress)
• 1861- Alexander II freed serfs but reforms were
  not enough for Russian people so he was killed in
  1881.

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Alexander III

• Persecuted all non-Russians
• Insisted on one language (Russian) and one church
  the Russian Orthodox Church
• Jews were beaten and killed in attacks known as
  pogroms (many fled to stay alive)

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Nicholas II..

• In the last part of Alexander IIIs reign and
  under his son Nicholas II, Russia enters the
  industrial age
• Factory owners treated workers unfairly
• Priests lead march to the palace of czar
  demanding reforms
• Soldiers killed hundreds of the protesters
  Bloody Sunday

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Bloody Sunday sparked Revolution!
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Causes of Russian Revolution..

• Low spirits after defeat in 1904 war with Japan
• Poverty and bad working conditions
• Corrupt government
• Persecution of minority groups
• Bloody Sunday killings

38
Results of Russian Revolution!

• October Manifesto-Czar Nicholas II announces
  reforms and new freedoms
• Nicholas Ii sets up the Duma which must approve
  all laws
• Nicholas II dissolves the first Duma when its
  leaders criticize the government
• Jewish persecution continues
• New voting laws limit powers of later Dumas

39
Real Changes

• Not much .give and take back policy to
  appease revolutionaries.