After a period of quiet social and economic rearranging, revolutions were triggered by Metternich’s and Louis-Philippe fall throughout Germany. The “profound psychological effect” causing several riots during 1948 in German cities, was crushed by the incapability of the revolutionaries to plan out the future. As a reaction to these revolutions, the major states decided to reissue the German situation. A “national representation elected in all the German lands” was created in the Vorparlament, which had replaced the old Frankfurt Diet of 1815, with the new Frankfurt assembly, which was intending to “establish a united Germany under a constitutional monarch who would rule through an elected parliament.” Solid liberal constitution rights had been created, the territorial claims were considered. This created a problem as there was “no logical definition of Germany.”, also containing the conflict of a Gross oder Kleindeutschland. After a short struggle a constitution was created in 1849, which was however not recognized by the major states Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony and Hanover, allowing the constitutions strength to decline, lacking military strength and the power to enforce laws. Stiles said “from the start the Frankfurt Parliament lacked real muscle” displaying that it didn’t provide an opportunity for unification, as both Austria and Prussia were not ready to attempt to unify the country as a whole.
Events however changed over time, and Wilhelm I was given the throne in 1861. After conflicts with his national assembly about extending monetary supply to the army, Bismarck finally entered the scene of German unification. Bismarck’s power to enforce laws had persuaded Wilhelm to install the previous Prussian ambassador for France as the minister president of Prussia. The foundation stone had been laid for him; he just had to complete the unification through various military campaigns. Bismarck’s opening speech marked the beginning of a new era in Central Europe, promising a unified Germany and military power satisfying the king and the majority of the liberalists in the Prussian assembly. Bismarck wasn’t satisfied with the Prussian constitution and decided to ignore it, following his own rules for success. His foreign involvement already started in 1863, when assisting the Russians by suppressing a Polish revolt, assuring Russian neutrality for further moves against Austria, as it “was clear that only one of the two major powers was going to unify Germany.” Bismarck was trying to cause a conflict with Austria in order to provoke a war. The Danish question was the next foreign involvement, where both Austria and Prussia were involved occupying the territories of Schleswig and Holstein in 1864. This smart political move cornered Austria in a hopeless situation, as at the negations in Gastein, Bismarck managed to gain a diplomatic victory.
Bismarck had managed to corner Austria, ensuring that the ‘German conflict’ was going to be resolved in near future. War was delayed until 1866, due to Bismarck’s fear of “the German population” and “the French neutrality of Napoleon III.” War finally broke out after Bismarck had ensured French neutrality, and with the Prusso-Italian treaty, which ensured that Austria was to be forced into a two-front war. Seaman considers that “The Prusso-Italian treaty made it almost certain that Austria would fight, by making it impossible for her to strike bargain.” Austria was crushed in the following 7 week war, and signed a peace treaty which was asked for by Napoleon III. Bismarck had managed to gain control over the whole of Northern Germany, founding the North German Confederation, and had also secured the loyalty of the southern German states, in case of a war against France. Through the lenient treaty offered to Austria, Prussia had also secured the neutrality of the empire in case of further conflicts.
Prussia’s views then wondered over to fully unifying the German “nation” under its control, and this was only possible by beating the French in a military situation. Historians argue at this point, if these problems which were to be caused were carefully planned or were just a series of fortunate events for Prussia. The initial spark was the Ems telegram, which was manipulated by Bismarck in order to catch France’s attention about the Hohenzollern candidature of Leopold in Spain. A conflict had again been prepared, and the Franco-Prussian war started in 1870. The economic progress paid off, as the Prussians had developed sufficient materials and modern equipment to compete with the French army. In 1871 Prussia defeated the French army, marching into Paris and then proclaiming the German Empire under Kaiser Wilhelm I. Prussia had unified Germany and partly restored the Holy Roman Empire of the north, consisting of most German speaking territories in Central Europe.
The question is, when referring back to the essay question; to what extent was Bismarck responsible for German unification, and what his importance was. Bismarck came into power in 1862, after Wilhelm I wanted him to defend and encourage the military ideas that Roon had set forward. Bismarck pushed into Prussia with his famous “iron and blood” speech, preparing Prussia for economic success and political domination of Central Europe. When reviewing the events, it is clear Prussia’s economic strength was an important factor for success in the unification in 1871. Lee supports this idea stating: “There can be no doubt that Prussia’s economic domination of the smaller states was a vital factor in her eventual success in uniting Germany.” The Rhineland and Ruhr gave Prussia the possibility to establish itself economically in Europe, producing more coal and iron then anybody else in Europe by 1870. Bismarck’s role in the economic success was especially minor. He was barely interested in the economic success, even though it was vital for his favorite part, the army. Bismarck’s importance in this part of unification was minor, as the foundations had been laid during the time where he had not been in power. The creation of the Zollverein marked the new era of Prussian economic control already in 1834. Lee however also remarked that the economic success “was not, however, sufficient. By the early 1860’s it had become apparent that the political framework of the German confederation was acting as an obstacle for further unity…The progress therefore had to be reached by political means.”
This is when Bismarck’s role and importance comes into German unification. Again the foundation had been laid by the Frankfurt Assembly and Diet in 1815 and 1848, but the actual shaping of the German empire started after the appointment of Bismarck as a chancellor. Already in 1862, before his appointment he had pointed out to the British foreign secretary that he was planning to take over Austria, to create a unified country. Through his encouragement of the army and his skill in diplomacy Bismarck managed to retain the German empire. Through Bismarck’s political skills, he managed to out maneuver Austria in the Schleswig-Holstein question or during the conference in Gastein. Bismarck also provoked war with France, with the manipulation of the Ems telegram and the encouragement of the Hohenzollern candidature. He had also prevented a European war conflict, by assuring Russian neutrality throughout all conflicts, and French or Austrian when necessary. This proves of great importance for the German unification, but one general aspect has to be discussed to ensure that Bismarck can actually seen as the “creator of the German empire.” Bismarck was a very skilled and ruthless politician or diplomat, but he had to rely on a strong power base which existed in Prussia, to force through his dreams. The Prussian army marked an important factor, as Bismarck’s ideas were made reality by their exceptional tactical and fighting skills in a war.
Seaman’s main argument is that “He did not (unify Germany). He did not even want to. He annexed, conquered or absorbed into Prussian control all the states of the old German Confederation except Austria. It was a German empire, certainly; but it was not, and Bismarck never intended it to be, the German empire.” This brings forward the aspect that Bismarck’s role in German unification was passive, as he actually wasn’t trying to promote the unification but Prussian expansionism throughout the German territory. He wasn’t actually really trying to encourage unification but to destroy it. “The unification of Germany was the only thing Bismarck was determined to prevent.” Bismarck was actually trying to preserve Prussian power, against the rising liberalism and radicalism which had arisen through the series of years. This theory put forward by Seaman, seems fairly true, as Bismarck often tricked the liberal participants in the Prussian assembly. Bismarck was trying to ensure that his ruler, Wilhelm I, could rule on and exert his power over many parts of “Germany”. However, one important aspect has to be considered, as indirectly Bismarck did support German unification. He didn’t want to, but he indirectly achieved it by fulfilling all the actions to enlarge Prussia, he ‘accidentally’ created a German empire, which he saw as the new Prussian one.
When concluding about Bismarck’s role and importance in German unification, when deeply analyzing the question, Bismarck was not trying to unify Germany but to expand Prussia. He even stated this in 1862 before he became Prussian chancellor: “I will take the first opportunity to declare war with Austria… give Germany a national union under the leadership of Prussia.” The emphasis here lies in the words ‘under the leadership of Prussia.’ In spite of the different objective, he was indirectly important, as the whole political situation for the unification of Germany was under his influence. He controlled central Europe, militarily and politically with Prussia, suggesting wars against Austria and France enabling the independence of the German state. The role in the economic success was not as major not being able to have a key influence, but as Lee remarked the political situation became more important during the 1860’s, when Bismarck entered the scene. He was supported by many sides, militarily, economically and politically during his reign, but his influence is very important, as it were his idea’s which he followed. Bismarck can therefore be seen as the ‘unwilling unifier of Germany’ with different intentions.