Building a German
Nation
Chapter 7
Section 1
German-Speakers
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Early 1800s: German-speaking people lived in numerous
scattered German states in Europe
Many lived in Prussia, the Austrian Empire, Bavaria, etc.
There was no unified German nation unlike today’s map
Events in motion soon led to German unification
Remember Napoleon??
1806-1812: Napoleon invaded and conquered German
lands
Napoleon organized several German states into the
Rhine Confederation – an alliance of German states
Before German Unification
This map shows that
Germany once
consisted of separate
German-speaking
kingdoms including
Prussia, Austria, and
other smaller
kingdoms.
Germany Today
German-Speakers
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After Napoleon’s defeat, the Congress of Vienna
created the German Confederation
The German Confederation was a weak alliance of
German states headed by Austria
1830s: Prussia created an economic union called the
Zollverein for the German states
The Zollverein removed tariff (tax) barriers between
many German states to promote trade, but the states still
remained politically fragmented and independent
German Confederation
Zollverein
Otto von Bismarck
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Bismarck, the chancellor of Prussia, led the drive to
unite the German states—but under Prussian rule
Bismarck was a master of Realpolitik, or realistic politics
based on the needs of the state
After creating a powerful military, he was ready to pursue
an aggressive foreign policy in his quest to unify
Germany
Over the next decade, Bismarck led Prussia into three
wars
Each war increased Prussian power and paved the way
for German unity
Prussia and Other German States
Otto von Bismarck
Bismarck used his
policy of “blood and
iron” to unite the
German states under
Prussian rule.
He delivered his
famous “blood and
iron” speech in 1862
that set the tone for
his future policies.
Austro-Prussian War
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Bismarck created an excuse to attack Austria (1866)
Austro-Prussian War lasted seven weeks (Seven Weeks
War)
Prussia won and annexed (take control of) several north
German states
The annexation was part of Bismarck’s plan to unite
German-speaking peoples into one big nation
In France, the Prussian victory angered Napoleon III
A growing territorial rivalry between Prussia and France
led to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870
Franco-Prussian War
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Bismarck worsened the crisis by re-writing and releasing
to the press a telegram (the EMS Dispatch) that reported
on a meeting between William I of Prussia and the
French ambassador
Bismarck’s editing of the telegram made it seem that
William I of Prussia had insulted the French ambassador
Furious, Napoleon III, ruler of France, declared war on
Prussia, as Bismarck had secretly hoped
The Prussian army, supported by troops from other
German states, quickly defeated the French soldiers
The French army was poorly organized and badly
supplied
Napoleon III
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (20 April 1808
– 9 January 1873) was the first President of
the French Republic and, as Napoleon III,
the ruler of the Second French Empire. He
was the nephew and heir of Napoleon I.
Elected President by popular vote in 1848,
he initiated a coup d'état in 1851, before
ascending the throne as Napoleon III on 2
December 1852, the forty-eighth anniversary
of Napoleon I's coronation. He ruled as
Emperor of the French until 4 September
1870. He holds the distinction of being both
the first titular president and the last
monarch of France.
Scenes from the Austro-Prussian War
(1870)
Kaiser William I
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Delighted by the victory in the Franco-Prussian War,
German princes persuaded William I to take the title
Kaiser (emperor) of Germany
January, 1871: German nationalists celebrated the birth
of the Second Reich (empire)
Bismarck drafted a constitution that created a two-house
legislature
The upper house was the Bundesrat; the lower house,
the Reichstag
The real power, however, was in the hands of the Kaiser
and Otto von Bismarck
Kaiser William I
Videos
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fv
wp&v=xj949U4QWuY&NR=1
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=en
dscreen&NR=1&v=Xj5jZEXh6TA
Powerpoint Questions (13 points)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Which country led the German Confederation?
What was the name and purpose of the economic
union that Prussia created?
Who became the Chancellor of Prussia?
Realistic politics based on the needs of the state is
called what?
What is the name of the famous speech that
established Prussia’s foreign policy direction?
Why did Bismarck want to annex several German
states?
Powerpoint Questions
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
What led to the Franco-Prussian War (1870)
What did Bismarck wish for when he intentionally rewriting and re-releasing the EMS Dispatch (telegram)
that purportedly insulted the French Ambassador?
Which country and leader declared war on Prussia?
Who won the Franco-Prussian War of 1870?
What is a Kaiser?
What is a Reich?
What is the capital of North Dakota?
The End