G ERMAN U NIFICATION
C HAPTER 2 5 .2 .3
U NIFICATION

Greatest Threat = Austria

Events that aided German
Unification

Napoleon dissolved HRE

Congress of Vienna
OF
G ERMANY
T HE G ERMAN
C ONFEDERATION
U NIFICATION P ROCESS

Economy

Zollverian- custom system that set prices

Uniformed weights and measures

Began to industrialize
U NIFICATION P ROCESS
C ONT …

William I and Otto von Bismarck

William I- Prussian Kaiser/King

Bismarck- Prussian “Iron” Chancellor

Realpolitik

Both believed that the state, NOT people should
hold power!
I RON

AND
B LOOD S PEECH
"The great questions of the time will not be
resolved by speeches and majority decisions…but
by iron and blood.“
~ Bismarck
WARS



OF
U NIFICATION
Danish War

Denmark vs. Prussia and Austria

Fought over Schleswig and Holstein

Prussia and Austria won
Seven Weeks War

Prussia vs. Austria

Fought over Schleswig and Holstein

Prussia won; became leader of new German Confederation
Franco/Prussian War

Prussia vs. France

Prussia picked a fight with France in order to unite N. and S.
German States

Prussia won
A U NIFIED G ERMANY (1871)
A U NIFIED G ERMANY (1871)

Berlin becomes capital

Government

William I- German Emperor/Kaiser

Bismarck- Chancellor

Legislative Branch

Bundesrat- Upper House

Reichstag- Lower House
A CTIONS
Positive

Built Military

Helped Build Industry (RR,
standardized banking,
centralized postal and
telegraph systems)
OF
Negative

Attacked Catholics
(Kulturkamph- anti-catholic
program)

Opposed Parliament (Bismarck
wanted Absolute power)


B ISMARCK
Helped Workers
(insurance, limited hours,
provided pension)

Problems w/…

Centre Party (Catholic)

Social Democratic Party
“SDP” (Socialist)
Poor relationship with William
II (new emperor)
C AN UNIFICATION AND NATION
BUILDING TAKE PLACE W / O GREAT
LEADERS ?