Directions

• As you go through the PowerPoint, answer the questions on your guide.

• For every problem in which Otto von Bismarck takes your advice, give yourself 15 points. Tally these points up at the end of the PowerPoint to learn your “fate.”

Background Information• The story of German unification is rooted in

the Napoleonic era. Napoleon’s domination of large parts of Germany not only increased the demand among German patriots for the creation of a unified nation, but also reduced the number of independent German states from 300 during the Holy Roman Empire to 38. The only question is which state would lead the German Unification- Prussia or Austria?

The German Confederation,

After the Congress of Vienna, 1815

The German Confederation,

After the Congress of Vienna, 1815

Europe in 1861Europe in 1861

1848 Revolution & the Frankfurt Parliament- attempted unification

• When artists and factory workers in Berlin exploded in March of 1848 and joined middle-class liberals, Frederick William IV of Prussia promised a liberal constitution and to merge Prussia into a new nationalist German state that was to be created.

• Meeting in Frankfurt, the National Assembly of self-appointed liberals met to draw up a constitution. They elected King Frederick of Prussia as the emperor of the new German state. However, he had successfully put down the revolts elsewhere. He disbanded the Assembly.

1848 Failure to Unite Germany

Reasserting that he had divine right, Frederick William refused to accept a crown “from the gutter,” meaning the common people. Bogged down with their nationalist issues the revolutionaries waited too long and acted too timidly.

• Frederick tried to establish the Erfurt Union of German states, but Russia and Austria forced Prussia to renounce all schemes of unification in 1850.

Zollverein• Prussia became the leading force in German

unification with its formation of the Zollverein.• It formed these German custom unions in

1834. These unions eliminated tolls and stimulated trade among members.

• Austria was excluded from membership, thereby allowing Prussia to achieve greater economic prosperity, while Austria remained agricultural.

Zollverein, 1834Zollverein, 1834

Kaiser Wilhelm IKaiser Wilhelm I

• It is now the year 1861. Upon taking the throne of Prussia, Kaiser Wilhelm I (1861-1888) has just made the most important decision of his life- he selected Otto von Bismarck as his Prime Minister.

Otto von Bismarck• Born as a Prussian Junker, the

landowning aristocracy, young Bismarck was a wild student given to duels and drinking. Proud of his Junker heritage and always devoted to Prussia, Bismarck has a strong personality and unbounded desire for power. Now that he is the Prime Minister of Prussia, Bismarck is asking your advice on the best steps to take to ensure the power of Prussia and to unite the German people.

Challenge #1: The Prussian Parliament

To challenge Austrian supremacy in the German Confederation (the loose group of German states formed by the Congress of Vienna) Kaiser Wilhelm I has asked Bismarck to pass military reforms through the Parliament. Parliament, however, is filled with the liberal middle class who does not want to spend their tax money on increasing the size of the already large Prussia army.

Challenge #1 OptionsBismarck is asking for your advice in dealing

with Parliament. These are the choices he has laid before you…

Option 1: Meet with the middle class liberal leaders and try to persuade them individually to agree to assist the Kaiser.

Option 2: Dissolve the Parliament and create one that has a greater majority of your supporters.

Option 3: Ignore the decisions of Parliament and spend tax collections on the army.

Option 1Option 1 Option 2Option 2 Option 3Option 3

Option 1: Meet with the Middle Class Liberal Leaders 1:

• Bismarck believes that you have a weak disposition, which is very unlike the strong Prussian he believed you were to be. He believes that government can rule without Parliaments consent.

• You receive 0 points for this decision.

What ReallyHappened?What ReallyHappened?

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Option 2: Dissolve the Parliament

Bismarck is happy to see that you agree with him that “might makes right” and that demonstrating to the Prussian parliament that they are can be fired would be a strong statement. However, the middle-class Prussian people are proud of their say in the representative system. Therefore, he believes that this could be causing a revolution to take place.

• You receive 0 points for this decision.What ReallyHappened?What ReallyHappened?BackBack

Option 3: Ignore the Decisions of Parliament

Bismarck agrees with you that this is the best option. It would clearly cause a revolution amongst the Russia people if you dissolved Parliament. Therefore, by ignoring them you may still may be able to get what you want.

• You will receive 15 points for your decision.

What ReallyHappened?What ReallyHappened?

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Challenge #1: What Really Happened

• To break the impasse, first Bismarck delivered his famous “Iron and Blood” speech in which he said, “Germany is not looking to Prussia’s liberalism but to her power. The great questions of our time will not be decided by speeches and majority resolutions-that was the mistake of 1848-49- but by iron and blood.”

• Despite the colorful speech, Parliament still refused to vote in favor of the military budget. Bismarck simply ignored them and collected the taxes and implemented the reforms. To their great discredit, the Prussian liberals did nothing to oppose this blatant disregard for their authority.

• The money has allowed Wilhelm to increase the size of the military and equip them with the newest weapons of the Industrial Revolution.

The Danish War• The Prussian voters were not unaware of your

overriding the interests of Parliament. They have continued to vote in more liberals. So, success abroad will help Bismarck to gain Prussian support. Thankfully, the Danes (from the country of Denmark) have provided the opportunity. The Danish king has tried to take the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein and incorporate them into Denmark- despite the objections of Germans in these areas.

• Bismarck persuaded the Austrians to join in the war. With the Danish defeat, Austria received Holstein and Prussia Schleswig.

The Danish

War[1864]

The Danish

War[1864]

Challenge #2: Austria in the North

• Bismarck is convinced that Prussia must have control of the northern, predominately Protestant part of the German Confederation, which would mean expelling Austria from German affairs. He seeks your advice on the best manner to get rid of the Austrian influence:

Option 1: Popular Suffrage have the peoples of Holstein vote on whether or not to enter the Prussian state.

Option 2: Risk War with Austria:

Option 1Option 1 Option 2Option 2

Option 1: Popular Suffrage

Bismarck thinks that you are nuts! You are already struggling to fight with the middle class liberals who have the right to vote- the last issue he wants to deal with is liberal suffrage in Holstein.

• You receive 0 points for this decision.

What Really Happened?

What Really Happened?

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Option 2: Risk War with Austria:

A man of action, Bismarck agrees with you that this is the best course to pursue. He knows that it would be a localized conflict that would not provoke a mighty alliance against Prussia.

You receive 15 points for your decision

What ReallyHappened?What ReallyHappened?

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Challenge #2: What Really Happened?

• After securing an alliance with Italy (who wanted to see the removal of Austrians from their territories) and securing a promise of non-participation from the French- Prussia declared war on Austria, citing a petty dispute over the governance of Holstein as the reason for attack. The modernization program undertaken by the Prussia army proved to be astonishingly successful; allowing from a quick Austrian defeat.

Step #2: Austro-Prussian War

[Seven Weeks’ War], 1866

Step #2: Austro-Prussian War

[Seven Weeks’ War], 1866

PrussiaPrussia

AustriaAustria

North German Confederation• After the defeat of the

Austrians, Bismarck annexed those small German states in the north that had supported Austria in the conflict. Other northern German states were convinced to join Prussia in the creation of what became known as the North German Confederation.

• Anticipating Prussia’s future needs, Bismarck offered Austria a generous peace…they paid no reparations and lost no territory outside of Holstein.

Challenge #3: Unification with Southern German States

Bismarck believes that by creating a patriotic war against France the Germans in the south may join Prussia. An opportunity may have arisen now that a kinsman of the Prussian king was invited to take the vacant throne of Spain. To Napoleon III, the emperor of France, having two Hohenzollern leaders on two fronts was too much to contemplate. This conflict could lead to the war Bismarck is looking for.

Unfortunately, Wilhelm I, king of Prussia, has given Napoleon III a diplomatic victory by agreeing to withdraw his cousin’s name as a potential leader of Spain. Bismarck is infuriated at the weak leadership and still wants a war with France…

Challenge #3: Unification with Southern German States

Bismarck comes to you for advice about how to approach the settlement over the Spanish thrown…

Option 1: Do Nothing- The Kaiser has already decided to withdrawal his cousin’s name. Another opportunity to war with France will arise soon.

Option 2: Attack France- Rather than wait for a reason, simply attack the French.

Option 3: Insult the French into War- Manipulate the diplomatic situation so that the Kaiser changes his stance on the Spanish throne, promoting a war with France.

Option 1Option 1 Option 2Option 2 Option 3Option 3

Option 1: Do Nothing

• Bismarck does not know if there will be another opportunity to war with the French soon. The opportunity for German unification could be lost…therefore, doing nothing is not an option.

• You receive 0 points for this decision.

What Really Happened?

What Really Happened?

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Option 2: Attack France2:

Bismarck would like nothing better, but believes that unification can only occur if the French declare war on Prussia first. Therefore, he cannot choose this option.

You receive 0 points for this decision.What Really Happened?

What Really Happened?

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Option 3: Insult the French into War

• Bismarck agrees with you that the French must attack Prussia, in order to ignite the nationalist feelings necessary for German unification.

• You receive 15 points for this decision.

What Really Happened?

What Really Happened?

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Challenge 3: What Really Happened?

• Bismarck, who desperately wanted war, re-wrote the so-called “Ems Dispatch” a telegram sent by the Prussian king to Bismarck informing him of what had transpired in the conversation between the king and a French ambassador, to make it appear as though the king had insulted France. Bowing to he demands of an outraged French public, Napoleon III declared war on Prussia.

Franco-Prussian War[1870-1871]

Franco-Prussian War[1870-1871]

German soldiers “abusing” the French.

French Defeat

• As soon as war against France began in 1870, Bismarck had the wholehearted support of the south German states. With other governments standing still- Bismarck’s generosity to Austria in 1866 had paid off- German forces defeated the French at Sedan. Napoleon III was captured and humiliated. After his capture, French patriots proclaimed the Third Republic in Paris & continued to fight. After a five month siege (in which the rebels were starving and forced to eat rats & animals from the Parisian zoo) they surrendered.

Challenge 4: The Treaty with France

Bismarck had given the Austrians an easy peace, when they were defeated in the Austro-Prussian War…what should the treaty terms be with the French?

Option 1: An Easy Peace- by taking it easy on the French, you have a potential ally in the future.

Option 2: Make them Pay- you have soundly defeated the French- they now owe Germany territory and reparations.

Option 1Option 1 Option 2Option 2

Option 1: An Easy Peace

• Bismarck thinks you are being a wimp! He believed that a gentle peace was necessary with the Austrians, only because they were necessary for German Unification. Now that unification is secure, and the German people excited over the French defeat, he believes the time is right to reap the spoils.

• You receive 0 points for this decision.What Really Happened?

What Really Happened?BackBack

Option 2: Make them Pay!

Bismarck agrees that with German nationalism so strong and having no use for good relations with the French, it is time to reap the benefits of German militarism.

You receive 15 points for your decision.What ReallyHappened?What ReallyHappened?

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Challenge 4: What Really Happened?

• By the time of the French defeat, the German states in the south had agreed to join a new German empire. The victorious Wilhelm I was proclaimed emperor of Germany in the palace of Versailles.

Coronation of Kaiser Wilhelm I

[r. 1871–1888]

Coronation of Kaiser Wilhelm I

[r. 1871–1888]

Challenge 4: What Really Happened?

• Bismarck imposed a harsh peace on France. France was forced to pay 5 billion francs to Germany and surrender the rich eastern provinces of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany.

• The French considered the seizure of this area a crime and would never forget nor forgive German aggression. Relations between France and Germany were tragically spoiled.

• As a result of the war, the Second French Empire collapsed and Napoleon III was out of power.

• The unification of Germany greatly upset the balance of power and would lead to intense rivalry amongst European powers- thus leading to World War I.

Age of Realpolitick• Bismarck’s political tactics were in direct

contrast to Metternich’s during the Concert of Europe. Bismarck based his political maneuvers on the “realpolitick” philosophy. It refers to politics or diplomacy based primarily on practical considerations, rather than ideological notions like conservatism. The term realpolitik is often used to imply politics that are Machiavellian since political leaders would use any means possible, like war and manipulation, to achieve their goals.

Your Fate0-15 points: If you received this low of a score,

Bismarck has fired you. He can see that you are not only lacking in political savvy, but also questions your German nationalism.

30-45 points: Bismarck is pleased with your advice. After German unification he appoints you to a high level in the new German government.

60 points: You have done such an exceptional job, and clearly possess the skills of a “realpolitick” that Bismarck believes you are a threat. Therefore, he sends you out of Germany to work as an ambassador in the distant Micronesian islands in the Pacific Ocean.

FRQ: Write an introductory paragraph and thesis statement for the FRQ below.

FRQ: Compare and contrast the foreign policy goals and achievements of Metternich (1815-1848) and Bismarck (1862-1890).