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Period: to
German unification
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formation of german confederation
napolean dissolved most of the holy roman empire, freed the surfs, made trade easier, and abolished laws against jews. Some germans didn't like Napolean and what he did, and fought against the French. At the congress of vienna people decided to make the german confederation headed by Austria. -
Economic change
prussia created the Zollverein which took away the tariff barriers between German states. liberals had a meeting in the Frankfurt Assembly again demanding political unification. offered throne to Frederick William IV of prussia -
Otto van Bismark became chancellor
Otto van Bismark became chancellor and used policy of "Blood and Iron" to unify german states under prussian rule. was a master of realpolitik. Realpolitik is the realistic politics based on the needs of the state -
Danish war
Bismark wanted to take over holstein and schleswig to unify Germany. Bismark made alliances with Austria so they both could fight against Denmark. They liberated Holstein and Schleswig and divided the spoils -
seven week war
Bismark attacked austria in order to ensure German unification. Germany made alliances with Italy promising them venetia. Bismark took control of several northern German states which was another step to unification. -
dissolvement of german confederation
Bismark dissolved the Austrian-led confederation. He decided to make a new confederation dominated by Prussia. There were still a few southern German states that were independent including Austria. -
Franco-Prussian war
Bismark only had one last obstacle left until German unification which was France. Bismark rewrote a telegram making it seem that william I was insulting the French. After France declared war on Prussia as Bismark had hoped, The Prussian force was much stronger and defeated France. -
Bismark makes constitution
Bismark started up a two house legislature: the Bundesrat, and the Reichstag. The Bundesrat were the upper class that were appointed by the rulers of the German states. The Reichstag were the lower class that were elected by the universal male suffrage. Due to the Bundesrat's being able to veto anything, the power still remained in the hands of the emperor. -
Bismarks foreign policy goals
Bismark wanted to keep France weak and isolated while becoming great allies with Russia and Austria. Bismark wanted to erase local loyalties and crush oppositions to the imperial state. He targeted the catholic church and the socialist which he thought were threats to German unification. -
The Kulturkampf
Bismark believed the citizens first loyalty was to the pope instead of Germany, so he decied to launch the Kulturkampf. The goal was to get all the Catholics loyalty to the state instead of the church. After his plan failed, Bismark decided to make peace with the church. -
Bismark's socailist battle
Bismark feared the socialist would undermine the loyalty of German workers and start a revolution. Bismark tried to dissolve socialist groups which in return failed. He decided to take another route which was sponsoring laws to protect them. because of this Germany was a pioneer in social reform.
