Chapter 10 Section 1 Building a German Nation

Mr. Bellisario November 4, 2013

Woodridge High School

Section Objectives

• Identify several events that promoted German unity during the early 1800.

• Explain the step of how Bismarck unified Germany.

• Analyze the basic political organization of the new German empire.

Early Changes that Helped German Unity

• Early 1800’s German-speaking people– Number of small states

(countries)– Largest state, Prussia– Austrian Hapsburg

empire

Impact of Napoleon (1807-1812) > desire for a united Germany

• Territorial changes in German area– He annexed land along Rhine R. for France– Dissolved the Holy Roman Empire– Organized some German states into Rhine Confederation

• New policies– Freeing of serfs– Made trade easier– Abolished laws against Jews

• Congress of Vienna created German Confederation, weak alliance headed by Austria

Prussia 1830’s

• 1830’s Prussia created economic union – Zollverein– Got rid of tariffs among

German states– However, Germany

remained fragmented

Prussia 1848

• 1848 liberals met at Frankfurt Assembly– Demanded political unity– offered throne to

Prussian, Frederick William IV, he refused

Bismarck the Chancellor

• Bismarck united Germany because of his strong will– Background– `From Prussia’s nobility, called Junkers, conservative

landowners• King William I made Bismarck Chancellor- prime

minister of German states under Prussian rule– Realpolitik – realistic politics based on the needs of the

state (Bismarck was the master!)– Creator of German unity– Not a nationalist – loyal to Hohenzollerns, ruling family of

Prussia

3 Wars – War with Denmark

• 1864 formed alliance w/ Austria• Seized provinces of Schleswig & Holstein from

Denmark

– Austro-Prussian War• 1866 Bismarck created excuse to attack

Austria• Lasted 6 weeks• Prussian annexed or took control of several

northern German states

– Franco-Prussian War• Rivalry between France & Prussia• Bismarck caused the war to happen by

– Talking about French threat & trying to create German nationalism

– Told the press about meeting between King Willliam I (Germany) & French ambassador

» Edited “Ems dispatch” » Made it seem like William I had

insulted the ambassador– Napoleon III was furious & declared war on

Prussia– France defeated by Prussians

Result from those wars• France is never a European power

again• Basic Political Organization of New

German Empire– Jan. 1871, William/Wilhelm I of Prussia

became kaiser, emperor of the Second Reich (empire) – First Reich was Holy Roman Empire

– Unified southern German states & Northern German Confederation

– Constitution set up two-house legislature• Bundesrat – upper house, members

appointed from nobility• Reichstag – lower house, members

elected• Bundesrat could veto Reichstag – real

power w/ kaiser & chancellor