How Bismarck United Germany
Otto von Bismarck, a brilliant, creative diplomat, served as Foreign Minister of Prussia from 1862 to 1890. He would later serve as the first chancellor of the German nation that he helped to create. The German states were swelling with nationalism during the mid-nineteenth century, best exemplified by the Revolution of 1848 (Otto von Bismarck). Perhaps the German states would have eventually unified on their own, but Otto von Bismarck certainly smoothed and hastened the process. His insightful unification tactics, ranging from negotiating with friendly countries to fabricating claims for expansionist wars, resulted in a desirable outcome: Kleindeutschland, or a German Empire that intentionally excluded Austria.
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As a foreword is typically necessary for complex stories, this convoluted process requires an introduction, as well. Bismarck did not create the desire to unify in the German people; that nationalist feeling had been expressed for numerous years before he was ever born. The Carlsbad Decrees, agreed to by the German states, suppressed nationalist organization and feelings in the German states (Carlsbad Decrees). While the Carlsbad Decrees were an attempt to prevent liberal and nationalist agitation, the Zollverein was a step in the opposite direction. It was a customs union that allowed for free trade throughout the German states. Nearly all the German states gradually came to join the Zollverein. The Zollverein was the first action in a long chain of events that spurred unification efforts (Zollverein). Nationalist tendencies continued to become stronger, and the tensions erupted …show more content…
He successfully managed the wave of nationalism and used it to his advantage in justifying wars. Bismarck began his career with his “Blood and Iron” speech that implored Germans to prioritize a strong military. Bismarck made the best of a constitutional crisis in Denmark by acquiring Schleswig and Holstein. With expert planning, Bismarck set up Austria for a Brothers’ War in order to acquire more German states. Lastly, Bismarck cleverly devised the Ems Telegram that made France clamor for war. Bismarck’s role in unification was unparalleled, and Germany may never have united if not for the efforts of this Prussian diplomat. Annotated Bibliography
"Carlsbad Decrees." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 July 1998. Web. 21 Nov. 2016. This website defines the Carlsbad Decrees and gives background.
Graham, James. "Was Bismarck the Key Factor in the Unification of Germany?" On This Day. On This Day, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2016. This website provides commentary on how Otto von Bismarck helped to unify Germany.
"Hegemony." Merriam-Webster. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2016. This website defines hegemony.
"Otto Von Bismarck." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2016. This website serves as a biography of Bismarck's
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.
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
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
Bismarck believed that Germany should be united under Prussian leadership and that Austria should have nothing to do with Germany. Bismarck was chosen as chancellor by the Prussian king as he had a proven record as a monarchist and had little time for liberal and excessive parliamentary ideas. Bismarck helped his long term plan to unite Germany and to be the ruler by getting in a strong position with the king. The king owned Bismarck a 'favour´ as Bismarck had solved the king´s constitutional crisis. Bismarck played a crucial part in the unification of Germany as he helped to set up the Northern German Confederation after defeating Austria in the second of three wars.
By 1890, Germans felt their allegiance to a normal state at least as strongly as the citizens of France and other European countries. Germany had not only built up all of the required symbols of national identity such as a common currency, flag and anthem, it relied heavily on well integrated national machinery, including the post office, judiciary, and Reichstag. Even the Prussian Hohenzollerns who ruled over the empire had become symbols of national unity, for Wilhelm II was seen as a German emperor, not a Prussian, and although the man himself was disliked by many, the institution had become a symbol for national unity. Furthermore, a new generation of Germans had grown up with common cul...
Revised: May 30, 1998 Accessed:October 15/99 Encyclopedia Britannica Online, "Bismarck, Otto von" © 1994, Accessed Nov. 10 1999 German News. " Otto von Bismarck, Founder of the German Empire", © July 1998, Accessed : October 15/99 Gielen, Christof "The Road to National Unification" ©1995
The formation of the Zollvein Union was one of the very first real steps that individualize Prussia from the other German states. Prussia increased their economic leadership, especially as she had successfully excluded Austria from the Zolleverin, but although Austria still retained political leadership in Germany. This relationship greatly separated Austria and Prussia.
The controversies surrounding his life still go on between historians today. He is portrayed as a destroyer of liberty and also as a compromiser of liberalism. Some see Bismarck as trying to preserve the old order of Europe. Bismarck worked against liberal plans for unification of Germany but stood proudly in the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles as the German Empire he helped to create was proclaimed. Bismarck as man and as statesman has been a point of interests for many history scholars’ interpretations. Bismarck’s empire lasted only 20 years after him. Bismarck believed that armed force was necessary in relations among governments – Blood and Iron his methods. Through three successful wars Bismarck united Germany. With the creation of the 2nd German Reich Germany become the strongest nation on the continent. After the union of the German states Bismarck became an outspoken activist for peace on the continent. Bismarck never succumbed to the temptation of conquest. Bismarck led the German people to empire but is criticized by not training the nation in self-governing. Bismarck never talked about racial supremacy or unlimited conquest. He believed in a balance of power resting upon the existence of strong nation states.
This was a noteworthy cause for German unification as it had extensive repercussions between the relationship amongst the Prussians and Austrians. Ever since the defeat at Olmutz on the 29th September 1851, the Prussians felt embarrassed when the breakdown of the Erfurt union occurred, where they later submitted to Austria. Many Prussians harbored a profound yearning to remove the feeling of failure on their pride and to recover their previous poise, finishing peaceful dualism. This perhaps is the best marker that it was the Prussian patriotism, not nationalism that created the cause of unification. Additionally, the Prussian patriotism led to the prompted unification of Germany, within the war of Austria in 1866. Within this same period, Austria was quick to sustain its position as leader of the German Confederation, where she restricted any thoughts of unified Germany, as it would have diminished her reign. Grossdeutschland Nationalists were one of some states that were against the war, while other remaining states also agreed with Austria against Prussia. Be that as it may, the Austrians were extensively defeated in just seven weeks with the last visit at Sadowa. In the end, the outcome was the North German Confederation, that contained a massive amount of states within the north. This was an incredible movement towards unity, regardless of the possibility that it was deciphered since Prussian
German Unification It would be impossible to tell the story of German Unification without giving Bismarck's role due prominence. Between 1862 and 1871 the map of Germany was altered radically, and Bismarck played a key role in the events, which led to the foundation of the new Reich, but his success was due to a combination of factors, not simply his own skill and genius as a politician. Bismarck was a Junker landowner who first made his mark in Prussian politics as a reactionary defender of the status quo, when he was elected to the united diet in 1847. During 1848-9 he gained his reputation as a defender of the old order.
The Congress of Vienna in 1814-15 created the so-called German Confederation under Austrian and Prussian hegemony, but this unit disappointed the dreams of nationalists. The rivalry of Austria and Prussia paralyzed it in a way comparable to the effects of Soviet-American dualism on the United Nations during the Cold War. Almost everywhere, the old rulers repressed the nationalist movement after 1815. The German princes realized that nationalism required ...
Germany, for a better part of its history, had been home to around 40 free cities and city-states controlling the area between France and Russia. Attempts at unifying these separate but connected states have been made quite often and often with the same results: failure. Those in control of these cities and states knew that a unified German empire would have no need of all these princes and kings, and so many obstacles blocked the path to unification. Another issue facing unification was the split “ownership” of Germany between Prussia and Austria, two nations that had helped join the cities and states into a loose confederation.
Prior to unification in 1871 the territory that would become Germany was comprised of thirty-nine independent states and city states joined together in a loose German Confederation. The most powerful among these states was Prussia, both geographically the largest state and that with the largest population. The influential politicians and policies that came out of Prussia were instrumental in the gradual formation of a united Germany. Beginning with the rise of Napoleon, the nineteenth century was a time of incredible change which dramatically altered the political balance of Europe. In order to understand the factors that culminated in official German unification on January 18 1871, it is necessary to examine the preceding decades. No single factor can be credited for the unification of the German states. Rather, the combined forces of social change, economic strength within a unified customs union, the moral justifications provided by nationalism, Bismarck’s careful manipulation of internal politics and the advantages gained through military action resulted in the unification of Germany.
Bismarck's Foreign Policy „Versuche zu Dreien zu sein, solange die Welt durch das un sunny“ Gleichweighed the five Großmächten bestimmt! “ This was the general formula of Bismarck’s foreign policies meaning “When there are. five great powers be one of three. “ The five great powers at that time. were France, England, Russia, Austria-Hungary and the new United States.
So, the unification of Germany in 1871 was achieved through a combination of factors; the idea held by the German people of a unified nation (nationalism), the fear held by the German aristocracy of anything which may result in a reduction to their power, such as liberalism and the ‘Napoleonic Fear’, the Prussian King William the first whose most important roles were appointing Bismarck and the introduction of the army reforms, and of course, Otto Von Bismarck. Bismarck was the reason for the three wars against Austria, France and Denmark, the implication of the Prussian army reforms and he made sure that the German states finally unified under the rule of a Prussian monarch, or ‘German Kaiser’, ruler of the newly founded German Empire in 1871.