Germany Unification

Germany Unification History Timeline Project Due: 3/10/06

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German Confederation - 1815

In 1815, at the Congress of Vienna, Metternich and others set up the loosely organized German Confederation. This united the 39 countries that made up Germany. Every year, the German states would send representitivies sp to a meeting in Frankfurt, called the Frankfurt Diet. Prussia and Austria dominated this meeting, which didn't do anything unless all 39 states agreed. However, Prussia and Austria did not agree frequently and not much was ever accopmlished. sp However, people looked to this meeting as a sign of what could come.

I liked the German Confederation set up by the leader of my arch-rival Austria. It set the stage in the minds of nationalists of a unified Germany. This was one that I hoped to create and have Prussia rule over. Other then that, nothing much happened in the convention. Austria was the leader at the time in Germany. However their citizens were from many different backgrounds and cultures. Also, we (Prussia) were more industrialized the Austria. We formed a Zollverein trade group with all of the real German nations. You see, "Germany is clearly too small for both of us [Austria and Prussia]".

Wilhelm I becomes king and selects Bismark - 1861

In 1861, Wilhelm I became the king of Prussia. He was strong minded and wanted to reform and double the army. However, a liberal parliament that was set up by his predecessor refused his reforms. The Junkers, a conservative, wealthy class that supported the king, also opposed the liberal parliament that they believed challenged the authority of the king. In 1862, Wilhelm I appointed Junker Otto van Bismark to the post of Prime Minister.

Thats me! This is the event when I first seriously come into the picture of European History! King Wilhelm I was a really nice guy. He wanted to double the size of the army and set Prussia even farther ahead then others with our industrialization. Of course the parliament wouldn't hear anything about this, (more on that latter) so desperate measures had to be taken. The Junkers, which I was a member of, was committed to keeping the conservative values of our country stong. So Wilhelm I picked lots of us for the high posts in the government and in the army. He picked me as his Prime Minister and secretary of foreign affairs to help the country!

Bismark says he will rule without Parliament - 1862

Otto van Bismark was a strong and commanding figure. He believed strongly in the the idea of realpolitik. (describe below) The Prussian parliament refused to grant his and Wilhelm I's desires. So Bismark decided that he would rule without the consent of parliament and defy the budget they had set for him. These acts were in direct violation of the new constitution. In parliament, he told them, "The great question ?plural of the day will not be settled by speeches or by majority decisions - that was the great mistake of 1848 and 1849 - but by blood and iron." Bismark soundly rejected the idealism of romanticism in favor of a more realistic reality in tune to the here and the now.

So my friend, Wilhelm I, king of Prussia, was having a little trouble with a liberal paraliment the previous king foolishly agreed to. They wouldn't accept anything we tried to do. Desperate measures had to be taken, and frankly, I couldn't stand all of thoes liying liberals. So Wilhelm and I decided that we would announce that we were going forward with other thoes snubby paraliment's approval. I don't care if it was in direct violation of the consititution. I wanted power to expand Prussia for the better. To do that, Innede to remove Austria from the equation. And I head the perfect plan ....

Him and Austria fought Denmark and launched tension - 1864

each got a neighboring territory and fought about that. Bismark liked this fighting

Bismark needed to disable Austria if he wanted any hope of uniting Germany. In 1864, he came up with a clever plan to harm Austria's feelings and get land from Denmark at the same time. He forged an alliance with his rival Austria and suggested they attack Denmark. The quick victory rose pride in the country and won Schleswig and Holstein from Denmark. However, Bismark arranged so that Prussia would control Schleswig, while Austria controlled Holstein. Bismark correctly predicted that this would cause tension between the two countries.

Ha, Ha. I had the prefect plan and Austria walked right into my trap. I had set it up that we would temporally get an alliance together, me and Austria. Then we would win against Denmark and raise pride as well as gain land. But I knew that Austria would not like living right next to me and our shared piece of Denmark. This led to tension between us and them. I perfectly predicted exactly what Austria would do...

Seven's Weeks War - 1866

w/ Austria as a result of Denmark border conflict Prussian is industrialized, helps them greatly weaken them ?and split up

In 1866, the border conflict of Denmark land between Austria and Prussia turned to war. Austria couldn't take it anymore and declared war on Prussia. However, that was a big mistake for the Austrians. The Prussians had a highly skilled military and an industrialized support system that led them to a speedy victory. The Austrians lost Venetia to the Italians and a lot of territory to Prussia. In 1867, the north German states joined the North German Confederation which Prussia controlled, practically putting them under the control of Bismark and Wilhelm I.

Who is the king now? Who? Oh, not me sadly. I'm just the prime minister, but I did manage to orchestrate this grand scheme to get more land. I, me, joined for the first time the eastern and western parts of the Prussian kingdom. I humiliated Austria and increased the pride and nationalistic feelings among my people. I did all this. Of course the superior training of the army and the wonderful, industrialized economy supported my troops very well. I think that is what led my troops to victory, no wait, I think it was my stunning courage and bravery that did it. You decide. (Decide properly of I will hunt you down.)

Franco-Prussian War - 1870

changes telegram to get France mad at him so that he could get the southerns to support him (they are catholics and he/ Prussia is protestant. he attacked France in Sept. 1870 captured versailles in Jan 18, 1871

By 1867, a few southern German states remained independent of the growing Prussia. However, these southern Germans were Catholic and did not want to be ruled by the Protestant Prussia. So Bismark did what he did best and created another "incident." Bismark reworded a telegram description of a meeting. In the telegram it sounded as if Wilhelm I had insulted the French. France took offence and attacked Prussia. This again was a dumb mistake made by Napoleon III to try and restore France's glory. Prussia again used their superior training and economy to surround 80,000 prisoners in Sedan, France. Also the Germans sieged Paris for four months until the French food supply ran out. On January 18, 1871, Bismark captured Versailles and was crowned kaiser or emperor. Bismark has succeeded in taking over Germany with blood and iron.

Again, another success. I am even doing better then Napoleon I. He didn't understand the concept and power of nationalism. I, however, have not failed once. Take that, Napoleon. So yes, I was able, again, to trick a country to attack me, and again our superior industrial system wiped them out quickly. It is a perfect system, and guess who came up with it. That's right, me! Now I gained even more land for Prussia. My plan was complete. With only a little bit of help from nationalism, I had united Germany for Prussia! I won! So there you have it. The story of the world's greatest (and most successful) political figure!