The Unification of Germany
What is nationalism?
1. Devotion and love for one’s country.
2. The desire for national independence
felt by people under foreign
domination.
Origins of Nationalism
• Napoleon’s conquest
results in German
nationalism
• The Congress of
Vienna did not address
their desire for a single
German state
A Failed Attempt at German Unity
• Frankfurt Assembly
(1848) – Germans offer
throne to Frederick
William IV of Prussia
• Why did he refuse?
• He did not believe that
the people should have
the power to make him
king
Prussia Leads the Way
Bismarck – Architect of German Unification
• Otto von Bismarck
– Appointed chancellor
(prime minister) by
King William I of
Prussia
– Realpolitik v. Idealism
– “Iron and Blood”
policy to unite
Germany
“Not by speeches and votes of
the majority, are the great
questions of the time decided
— that was the error of 1848
and 1849 — but by iron and
blood.”
PHASE I: “Iron and Blood”
• 3 Wars
– War with Denmark
• Alliance with Austria
• Seized Schleswig from
Denmark
– War with Austria
• Prussia added Holstein and
other German States
– Franco-Prussian War
• Ems Dispatch
• Adds final remaining
territory
“Let us lift Germany, so
to speak, into the
saddle. It will certainly
be able to ride.”
Territory Added by Bismarck
“Laws are like sausages, it
is better not to see them
being made.”
Germany: The Second Reich (Empire)
The new German government:
Kaiser William I
(Kaiser Wilhem I)
Bundesrat
"Upper House"
Appointed by rulers of German States
Could veto any Reichstag decision
Reichstag
"Lower House"
Universal Male Suffrage
“I have seen three emperors
in their nakedness, and the
sight was not inspiring.”
Yo
Bismarck,
what up?!
PHASE II: INDUSTRIALIZATION
Rapid Industrial Growth
due to:
–
–
–
–
Iron and Coal
Disciplined work force
Large population growth
Leading scientists and
chemical companies
(Krupp Family)
Early Domestic Problems
• Campaign against the Catholic
Church
– Kulturkampf
– Backfired
• Campaign against Socialists
– Backfired again
• Bismarck also refused to conquer
more land for William II
• William II asked Bismarck to
resign as a result
• “There is only one master in the
Reich and that is I.”
Long –Term Effects of German Unification
• William II’s desire for
expansion will cause
Germany to continue
building up its army
and ultimately lead to
German involvement
in WWI.
Review
• Who was the Prime Minister who unified
Germany?
• What was the name of the kingdom that most
greatly pressed for unification?
• What was Bismarck’s policy to unify Germany
called and what did each part stand for?
• What problems did Bismarck run into after
unification?
• Who was the Kaiser who fired Bismarck and led
his country into the First World War?
Germany
When was it
finally united?
What state led
the way?
Prime Minister?
King/Kaiser
Origins of
nationalism
Who opposed
unification?
Italy