German Unification German-Speaking States Were Being Left Behind During the Industrial Revolution

timeline German unification German-speaking states were being left behind during the Industrial Revolution. We chart the Stages towards unification

steps which, under Otto von Bismarck, brought As early as 1834, a customs union (zollverein) was pioneered which, those states to form a single political entity by the mid-1860s, included the majority of German states except for Austria. However, at this point there was no political federation between the German-speaking states. The impetus to political unification came from Prussia and is The German-speaking ‘mosaic’ associated with the career of Otto von Bismarck (1815–98). Historians dispute whether Bismarck had a master plan for unification or simply In the middle of the nineteenth century, Europe was in the midst of a took advantage of situations enabling, essentially, Prussia to take technological revolution that was transforming economic production over Germany, apart from Austria. and transport. Steam power and iron construction expanded the size Unification came about by stages. Internally, the zollverein states 1862 1868 of machines and the pace of output. Above all, the development formed a North German Confederation in 1867 and Bismarck used Bismarck is appointed by Spanish Succession of steam railways was binding continents together and breaking this as the key building block for the new Germany. The main King Wilhelm I to the Dispute. The selection of a down local and regional markets in favour of national and ultimately southern German states, excluding Austria, were also incorporated. international ones. They were also bringing about a revolution in posts of minister president German candidate as new By 1870, Prussia had effectively taken over the smaller German and foreign minister of king is opposed by France military capabilities. states. Prussia Strong, united countries, notably France, the UK and the USA were Externally there were wars against Denmark, Austria and France. In in a good position to exploit the new potential. By comparison, 1864 Prussia annexed the formerly Danish provinces of Schleswig and 1870 Germany was not. It did not exist as a state. German-speaking central Holstein. A war with Austria in 1866 turned the Austrian-dominated Europe was divided into three relatively sizeable states — Prussia, 1866 German candidacy of Leopold of Hohenzollern- German Confederation into the Prussian-oriented North German Bismarck complains of Austrian interference Sigmaringen is withdrawn Austria and Bavaria — and a mosaic of smaller dukedoms and the Confederation (the largely Catholic states of Bavaria, Baden and in Schleswig and invades Holstein; Austria 13 July like. Economically this meant goods were subject to a variety of Wurtemberg remained outside). In 1870–1 a war with France ended retaliates by declaring war on Prussia, provoking Ems Telegram from the Kaiser to Bismarck fans a war laws, taxes and transport tolls on, for example, the Rhine. This made French opposition to having an increasingly powerful neighbour on German goods less competitive. its border. The new German empire resulting from this sequence of the Seven Weeks War and is rapidly defeated frenzy in France The growing strength of Britain and France also meant that Prussia, manoeuvres was proclaimed in the French palace of Versailles. 23 August 19 July the largest and most powerful of the German states, was in danger of Treaty of Prague. The German Confederation France under Napoleon III declares war on Prussia falling behind in the race for arms, influence and empire which other is replaced by a Prussian-dominated North 1–2 September great powers were pursuing. German Confederation France defeated in Battle of Sedan. Napoleon III captured 1815 1820 1825 1830 1835 1840 1845 1850 1855 1860 1865 1870

1815 1834 1864 1871 Congress of Vienna sets up Prussia establishes a customs Danish–Prussian war over the dynastic succession to 18 January the German Confederation, union comprising most of Schleswig-Holstein Bismarck proclaims Wilhelm emperor (Kaiser) of the German empire a loose association of states the German Confederation, 1 February (Reich) in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles under Austrian influence except Austria Prussia, with Austrian support, invades the province 28 January 30 October Paris surrenders. War ends Treaty of Vienna. Northern Schleswig is incorporated 10 May in Prussia, Holstein is assigned to Austria Treaty of Frankfurt. Incorporation of Bavaria, Baden and Wurtemberg in the North German Confederation, effectively uniting Germany apart from Austria. Alsace and Lorraine also incorporated ModernHistoryReviewExtras Go online for a printable pdf of this centre spread Christopher Read is professor of European history (www.hoddereducation.co.uk/historyreviewextras) at The University of Warwick.

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