Economic Factors in Unification of German People in the 19th Century
There is little debate about the factors concerned in nineteenth
century German unification, the argument commences when the most
important is put to question. To find the most important we must
surely look to the primary factors, the instigating forces, or seeds
if you will, that are required for the formation of a Nation State.
The great Bismarck was a leader that undoubtedly showed much
initiative and many would attribute the unification of the German
speakers to his efforts, but the economic necessaries came long before
the man who used them. When the various factors are combined Bismarck
appears nothing more than a clever opportunist who orchestrated a
perfect position that cannot be accredited to his efforts. Without
opposition, at least not powerful, Bismarck could not fail to succeed
and, in his own words, "man cannot create the current of events. He
can only float with it and steer"[1].
In contradiction to Bismarck's own claim and putting emphasis on an
economic footing, J.M.Keynes wrote in 1919 that "the German Empire was
not founded on blood and iron, but coal and iron"[2]. The term
'economic' encompasses many sub-factors and one of these would have to
be the gift of natural resources and, more importantly, the use of
them. The growth of Prussia's, already militaristic superiority over
the other scattered states, was accelerated further due to the
division of the German states and the creation of border countries
following Napoleon's defeat in 1815. This a prime example of a step
towards the unification of the German speaking people, without a
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...mbridge, p.14.
[3] Quoted in, Waller, Bruce., "Germany: independence and unification"
in, Waller, Bruce (ed)., (1990), Themes in Modern European History,
Unwin Hyman, London, p.113.
[4] Treaty establishing the Zollverien, Quoted in, Gorman, Michael.,
(1989), "The Unification of Germany", Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, p.31.
[5] Waller, Bruce., "Steam: revolution in warfare and the economy" in,
Waller, Bruce (ed)., (1990), Themes in Modern European History, Unwin
Hyman, London, p.238.
[6] Waller, Bruce., "Germany: independence and unification" in,
Waller, Bruce (ed)., (1990), Themes in Modern European History, Unwin
Hyman, London, p.115.
[7] Waller, Bruce., "Germany: independence and unification" in,
Waller, Bruce (ed)., (1990), Themes in Modern European History, Unwin
Hyman, London, p.114.
Research will be drawn from many sources including several historical studies and online articles. The sources used revolve around Bismarck's attitudes and actions toward German unification and general policy. Sources include works by historians A.J.P. Taylor and James Wycliffe Headlam. The policies of Bismarck during the interwar period were researched as well, through several scholastic journals and written works.
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