Britain and the Economic Unification of Germany, 1850 – 1865: The Two Zollverein Crises By Thomas Rayner 2 Britain and the Economic Unification of Germany, 1850-1865: The Two Zollverein Crises Thomas Rayner (6557945) Research Master Thesis History Utrecht University
[email protected] [email protected] 02/10/20 Word Count: 35,196 Supervisor: Jacco Pekelder Second Reader: Oscar Gelderblom 3 Abstract Between 1830 to the 1860s the question of German unification gained increased significance as a European problem. Simultaneously, free trade as an idea proliferated with rapid political connotations that came to shape the outcome of how Germany’s neighbours perceived unification. Britain, deeply invested in how German unification would shape the balance of power, perceived German politics through its own liberal free trade identity. Going beyond the already researched episodes of the 1848 Revolutions, the 1848-1852 and 1864 Schleswig- Holstein Crises, and 1860s Wars of German Unification, and focusing instead upon the struggle for economic leadership in Germany via the Zollverein (the German customs union), this paper demonstrates British observers maintained vivid preferences towards the role and character of a united Germany. The arena of commercial rivalry is shown to be a nexus of the wider problems of the German question. British observers consistently prioritised a liberal solution to the German question, which ultimately led to broad support for Prussian leadership in the Zollverein, as Prussia had framed itself as a proponent for tariff liberalisation, and thus of wider Germany. Although, throughout the 1850s some actors such as the press often advocated a system of dualism (joint Austro-Prussian leadership), a pro- Prussian consensus ultimately emerged.