Certain motivating political and economic factors enabled Germany to gain its unification in the late nineteenth century. Its economic prosperity from the zollverein, technological advances, and political moves in terms of actions allowed it to ultimately acquire a solid unification by 1871.
In terms of economic factors, Prussia’s economic prosperity and financial stability in the 1850s enabled it to become one of two states powerful enough to bring about the unification of Germany. By 1834, Prussia had established the zollverein, a German customs union that eliminated tolls on rivers and rivers, thus stimulating trade and adding prosperity to member states. Likewise, due to Bismarck’s taxation used to reorganize the military, regardless of Parliament’s opposition, this enabled Prussia to hold a strong military force, competent to defeat future rival European powers. Economic prosperity allowed the Prussian military to be able to afford technological advances machines, such as the breech-loading needle gun and superior network of railroads. These economic factors that sparked Prussia’s financial prosperity and military strength led all other German states, except Austria, to join Prussia’s customs union and look up to Prussia as the key to bringing about German unification.
