Analyse the shifting balance of power in German affairs in the 1850's.

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Analyse the shifting balance of power in German affairs in the 1850’s

Between 1851 and 1853, Austrian statesmen sought to consolidate and exploit the position of supremacy in German affairs that had been manifested at Olmutz. Prussia had been discredited politically in what was basically the end of their hopes of dominating a united German nation and, more importantly, a surrender to Austria, its main opponent for control of Germany. However, this was really one of few areas in which Austria had managed to establish an advantage over Prussia, as the 1850’s were a time of Prussian ascendancy and Austrian descendancy.

The Prussian government became a dominant force economically. The Prussian government worked via the zollverein toward the perpetuation of the free trade area.

The majority of industries expanded and the Prussian economy benefited as a result.  

The Austrian foreign minister, Count von Buol, believed that Austria should conclude an alliance with the western powers as a safety net against nationalist uprisings and sentiment in Italy. This policy required an understanding with Prussia. However, Prussian opinion was deeply divided, with conservatives following a pro-Russian policy, while the liberals favoured France and Britain. In the end, neither of the German powers played any military role in the Crimean war, although Austria did maintain a friendly attitude towards the allies.

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Austria attempted to close the gap, which Prussia was creating in the economy. The economic advantages of alliance with protectionist Austria were not even half as attractive as those that were to be achieved by joining the free trade Zollverein. The Austrian government tried to combat this with the Austro-German customs union with the German states that were still not members of the Zollverein.

Austria also became isolated in Europe after their failure to repay the debt that they owed Russia in the Crimean war. This had broken the ‘holy alliance’ between the two great legitimist powers.

In the years ...

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