A Case Study in Nationalism: German Unification, 1815-
1871
Meeting of all the German Confederation monarchs, 1863
Setting the Scene: The Congress of Vienna
• Creation of the German Confederation (GC)– 39 states, led by Austria– Prussia allowed to be independent
AND part of GC
• Major powers of GC were rivals– Austria: Hapsburg dynasty to
South of GC– Prussia
• Military power in North
Blue = PrussiaYellow = AustriaGray = other German states
Austria and Prussia, mid 19th Century
• Austria weak– Nature of Empire (11
nationalities, 15 languages spoken)
– Struggle with nationalist movements
– Lost Russia as ally in 1850s (Crimean War, Slavic nationalism
Austrian Empire Coat of Arms
Austria and Prussia, Mid 19th Century
• Prussia strong– Most industrialized
state in Germany• More coal, iron than
Austria• Better and longer road,
rail network– Favorable trade
alliances with GC states & standardized currency
– Superior leadersPrussian coat of arms
Prussian Leaders• Kaiser Wilhelm I (1799-
1888)– Soldier, diplomat: not well
educated (3rd son of dad)– “Prince of Grapeshot”:
turned cannon on own people during Const. crisis in 1848
– Became king in 1861– Appointed good people to
run State
Prussian Leaders• Otto Von Bismarck (“The Iron
Chancellor”)– Appointed Minister-President by
Wilhelm I in 1862• Conservative who supported
Monarchy• Incredibly loyal to Kaiser
– Goals• Unify North German States• Weaken Austria• Make Berlin center of Germany• Strengthen King of Prussia against
Parliament, called the ReichstagBismarck as Chancellor, 1871
Plan for German Unification: Phase One
• Prussia went to war against Denmark, took land (circled)
• Then fought Austrians in 1867 (7 week war)– North German
Confederation created, under Prussian control
– Austria promised to stay out of NGC affairs, pay reparations ($ for war)
Red = PrussiaSalmon =Other NGerman StatesGray = SouthGerman States
Hot pink line is Boundary of NGC
Franco-Prussian War, 1870-71• France was afraid of
Prussia getting stronger• Bismarck used diplomacy
to isolate France from allies– Russia, Italy promised to
stay neutral in war• Provoked war with France:
“The Ems Telegram”– Ems a resort– French demanded public
withdrawal– Bismarck sent along two
copies……Germany threatening France
(French newspaper cartoon, 1870)
Franco Prussian War, 1870-71• French mobilize 100k
reg. troops, declared war against ALL of Germany– Result: Southern German
states join NGC– Fr. figured their army
would grow as mobilization continued
• Germans reacted with swift attack– Mobilized 1 million troops
in 10 days– Transported to Fr border– Paris captured in Jan 1871
Franco-Prussian War, 1870-71• Treaty of Frankfurt
– France lost Alsace-Lorraine– Paid indemnity of $500
million to Prussia• Southern German States
unified with NGC when France declared war = Germany was complete!!
• Was German unification inevitable?– Yes; economic coop. =
unification eventual, but Bismarck sped it up
Results of Franco-Prussian War