The Process of the Unification and Founding of the German Empire in a European Context: Otto Von Bismarck

1997 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Factors for the German Unification

There were a number of events that occurred before eventually resulting in the reunification of Germany in 1871. The first steps towards the unification of Germany began in 1814 after the downfall of Napoleon’s ‘Rheinbund’ this began the period of restoration, where princes and knights etc. reclaimed their political control over their territory that they had under the old ‘Reich’ before 1789 (Mark Allinson, 2002).

Rulers of areas in Europe (including Germany) attended the ‘Wiener Kongress’ from October 1814 to June 1815 in order to adjust Europe post Napoleon. (Only the states of Germany that survived Napoleon attended Vienna.) The main aim of this conference was to reward the states and countries which were most successful in defeating Napoleon, not to consider democratic ideas. The areas rewarded were Russia, Prussia, Austria and Great Britain. These countries/states were rewarded by gaining land/territories. As well as gaining territories some areas also lost and e.g. although it expanded Prussia lost areas of Poland to Russia however the outcome of this loss was that Prussia became ‘a more coherently German state.’ (Mark Allinson 2002) Once the conference was over Germany was made up of 39 states, markedly fewer than before. Each state kept their own independence in the form of currency, laws and Armies.

A German confederation ‘Deutscher Bund’ was agreed to by the states of Germany in the ‘Bundesakte’ of 1815. This was because the leaders of the new territories did not want to give up their power over their land they had recently reclaimed, to another source of power, i.e. Austria or Prussia the two dominant German states. The ‘Deutscher Bund’ was an alliance between the 39 states of Germany and had no head of state or cen...

... middle of paper ...

...-2000: modern history for modern languages. London: Arnold.

Breuilly, J. 2001. Nineteenth-century Germany. London: Arnold.

Brose, E. D. 1997. German history, 1789-1871. Providence, R.I.: Berghahn Books.

Burschenschaft.de. 2014. Deutsche Burschenschaft : Das Wartburgfest im Jahre 1817. [online] Available at: http://www.burschenschaft.de/geschichte/geschichte-der-db/stationen-der-burschenschaftlichen-geschichte/das-wartburgfest-im-jahre-1817.html [Accessed: 10 Jan 2014].

Ramm, A. 1981. Germany, 1789-1919. London: Methuen.

Sperber, J. 2004. Germany, 1800-1870. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Uni-leipzig.de. 2014. [online] Available at: http://www.uni-leipzig.de/~agintern/uni600/ug164.htm [Accessed: 11 Jan 2014].

Wiener-kongress.at. 2014. Der Wiener Kongress. [online] Available at: http://www.wiener-kongress.at/index.html [Accessed: 10 Jan 2014].

Show More
Related

  • The Kaiser's Personal Rule

    1550 Words  | 4 Pages

    The German state was forged out of the fires of the Franco-Prussian war in 1871 by the Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. Prussia was by far the largest and most dominant state of the 25 unified in the creation of Germany, with the King of Prussia automatically becoming the Kaiser (Emperor) of the German Reich. In 1888, Kaiser Wilhelm II ascended to the throne, obtaining absolute and total control of the country. However, there is still debate as to whether Wilhelm II exercised full control of Germany or if true power lay in the hands of others in the years preceding the First World War.

    Read More

  • The Break Out of the Revolution in Germany in 1848

    995 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Break Out of the Revolution in Germany in 1848 There were a numerous external and internal factors behind the 1848 revolutions in Germany. Externally, changes in the international climate and political upheaval in Austria provided German nationalists with an avenue of opportunity to cease power. Internally, the growth of German nationalism and liberalism coupled with the acute financial and food crisis of 1847 created an atmosphere fit for revolutionary activity. Between 1815 and 1847, the Great powers reduced the importance of nationalism and liberalism in order to maintain the ideals set about at the Treaty of Vienna of peace, order and stability within the balance of power. The Great powers installed Austria as the ‘reactionary henchman’ of Europe.

    Read More

  • Dbq Essay On Otto Von Bismarck

    753 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the late 1800s, Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck used different strategical plans in order to gain as much power possible, the majority of the plans consisted of him taking advantage of the different political parties. Bismarck used many traditional political strategies in order to gain the power he craved for, such as creating harsh laws and prohibiting certain beliefs or ideas. Unfortunately, these strategies did not satisfy the people, so Bismarck later started to increase the welfare of the working class, apologized to the Socialists, and did much more to obtain more political strength which eventually created a new conservatism. In an effort to increase political power for the Kaiser, Chancellor Otto Von Bismarck uses liberal and traditional

    Read More

  • Bismarck's Speech on the Issue of the Poles and His Understanding of the German Nation

    1784 Words  | 4 Pages

    What does Bismarck's speech on the issue of the Poles reveal about his understanding of the German nation?

    Read More

  • German Unification Dbq

    1210 Words  | 3 Pages

    There was a sweeping reform of unification in the European continent in the 19th century. Two unified nations that would arise out of this century were Italy and Germany. Though unified a mere ten years apart, there were many differences in their ultimate journey. In the essay to follow, I will examine the central ideas behind the unification of these nations, the groups of people who supported or opposed the unification and why. Furthermore, I will examine the historical events leading up to and following the unification as well as the political and intellectual figures central to these efforts. Though the ultimate goal appeared similar, the path journeyed to obtain this goal and the aftermath was quite different.

    Read More

  • The Reasons for the Growth of Prussia’s Influence in Germany by 1862

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    In 1815 there was no such thing as a German State or Nation. In the

    Read More

  • The Unification of Germany Between 1863 and 1871

    811 Words  | 2 Pages

    weeks, this proved a great success as it led to the setting up of the

    Read More

  • German Unification Dbq

    1390 Words  | 3 Pages

    He brought in the Carlsbad Decree, banning the teaching of nationalism and liberalism. Lecturers were expelled for teaching nationalism and students were not allowed to talk about liberal and nationalist ideas. On the other hand, the second most powerful Germanic state, Prussia was open to the idea of liberalism and nationalism. Prussia welcomed the idea of one German nation. Other states grew closer to Prussia and an economic union called Zollverein was created that did included Austria in it. This economic union allowed Prussia to improve its economic situation and its military. An attempt to unify Germany was made in 1848, which ended up in a partial failure. The 1848 attempt made it clear that the German’s wanted Germany without Austria. The attempt was partially a failure because Prussian king did not take the title of German Emperor since the commoners were giving it and it made the Prussian King feel

    Read More

  • Why the Weimar Republic Faced Many Problems in the Years 1919-1923

    775 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Rhineland was de-militarized and occupied for 15 years and Danzig was to become a free city. Germany were forced to pay 6.6 billion pounds in reparations. There was a ban n the union between Austria and Germany. All these terms, causing Germany to become humiliated and angry. Germany s army was also put under restrictions and finally the League

    Read More

  • The Reasons of the German Reunification

    1282 Words  | 3 Pages

    Turner, Henry Ashby. Germany from Partition to Reunification. New Haven, CN: Yale University Press, 1992. Print.

    Read More

  • C. E. 962: Otto Von Bismarck

    1022 Words  | 3 Pages

    Since medieval times, Germany has been a leader of Europe. Politically and religiously, during a period of the Holy Roman Empire’s reign; militarily, during the 19th and early 20th centuries; and economically in the present era. In C.E. 962, Otto von Bismarck (OvB), the leader of the German Kingdom of Saxony, was crowned as the Holy Roman Emperor (HRE) and began an unbroken succession of German rulers that controlled much of the political and religious affairs of continental Europe up until the 19th century. Not until a few decades later, after the last HRE Francis II was defeated by Napoleon, did the economically productive and militarily advanced state of Prussia, under the leadership of OvB, succeed in unifying the disparate German states

    Read More

  • Count Camillo Benso Di Cavour And Otto Von Bismarck Of France

    1231 Words  | 3 Pages

    However, they both disliked nationalists who asked for a republic or communist state because it threatened their power. European nations were phyiscally divided after the Napoleonic wars, but simultaneously brought together by the Nationalist spirits evoked in wartime. Liberal middle class citizens in Germany sought to transform absolutist Prussia, the most powerful kingdom in the German confederation, into a constitutional monarchy and unify the 38 states. Bismarck, as Prime Minister, also wanted to unify Germany but he did so in the interest of his own power and expansionist ideology. He sought to have German patriotism and glory in the unity of wartime, encouraging citizens to volunteer for their country which created the common identity and cause which is core to Nationalism.

    Read More

  • The Importance of Bismarck to German Unification

    722 Words  | 2 Pages

    The proclamation of the German empire was the result of a long process to which many factors contributed to. ' German unification was, on the part of Bismarck, a series of favorable situations wisely grasped' (Aronson, the Kaisers) Although the Zollverein, Prussia's military power and industrialization all pointed Germany in the right direction of unification it would have taken many more years, or perhaps never, for Germany to unify. Bismarck took the pieces of jigsaw and put them all together to give us united Germany.

    Read More

  • Why Is Bismarck Too Harsh

    473 Words  | 1 Pages

    Otto Von Bismarck, best-known for uniting Germany for the first time in 1871. Before, Bismarck, there was no Germany, instead it was the German Confederation, which consisted of 39 separate German states. The German states were defined by their different cultures and languages. They were not unified under one leader like most European countries. After, Bismarck, Germany is defined as a strong, powerful nation to be wrecked with.

    Read More

  • Comparing The French Revolution And The Failure Of Nationalism

    563 Words  | 2 Pages

    Yet, the 39 German states remain untouched but renamed themselves to the ‘German Confederation’. While Europe moved towards the more conservative governments, the liberals continued to be inspired by the French Revolution. In 1848, the liberals made the first serious attempt at German unification, although they eventually failed. In many ways similar to the one that had occurred in France in 1789, the revolution of 1848 was an uprising of lower and middle class Europeans against what was viewed as the oppressive elite, particularly royalty. Nationalism and the unification of the states presented a way to overcome these absolute monarchs.

    Read More

More about The Process of the Unification and Founding of the German Empire in a European Context: Otto Von Bismarck

Open Document