In 1815, the year of Bismarck’s birth, many German composers and writers were involved in what can be known as the Romantic Movement. During this time, writers such as the brothers Grimm collected folk tales from all over the German states and published them, they believed to create the future of German, they would have to look on Germany’s past. By making the tales available to all Germans, ideas spread this brought the states closer together. The view that the German states should join together was expressed in books, newspapers and magazines. One place where these views really caught on was in the universities. Speakers such as Ardnt and Jahn talked of a united Germany. Student societies were set up and the students were encouraged to talk about new ideas such as Liberalism and Nationalism. Many felt that there should be freedom to express opinions and speak and write freely. They also thought more educated classes should have a say in parliament. Many criticised Metternich’s power over Austria and influence over the states. As these views spread, Prince Metternich became very worried. He thought that if these ideas were allowed to spread further, Austria’s power would be threatened. The result of his concern was the Karlsbad decrees of 1819. these decrees banned student societies and many university proffessors were fired from their posts. Historians say that it is clear to see Metternich overreacted and that the spread of cultural nationalism was largely confined to the universities and the educated middle and upper classes. Many educated Germanys talked and Wrote about unification and romanticised an idea, few had any clear idea of what should be done to achieve it. Cultural nationalism was brought about by the universities, German writers, thinkers and poets. Bismark had nothing to do with the Romantic period and, in his early life was adamantly opposed to the idea of German unity. Although it is logically argued that there is no way cultural nationalism would have brought about unification alone, perhaps, if the spirit of nationalism was not already circulating, Bismarck would have had a far harder job.
Political factors were crucial in aiding the unification of Germany in the years leading up to 1871. Primarily, the Napoleonic Wars highlighted the weakness and division of many fragmented states as opposed to one single unit, and so, in the interest of security, unification became supported by many. Historian David Thompson wrote, “the French … spread Liberalism by intention but created nationalism by inadvertence” by this, he meant that the French intended to spread new ideas, like having a parliament elected by the people of a country. However, by defeating and occupying the German states, the French united Germany in a common feeling of resentment against them. Additionally, the Vienna settlement of 1815 which ended the war redrew the borderlines of Europe resulting in the 400 German states being reduced to just 39. These states made up the Bund, of German confederation. The reduction in number made co-operation and co-ordination far easier, bringing the states closer together and encouraging nationalist feeling. For many years, there has been historical debate over the significance of the creation of the Bund; some historians, AJP Taylor for example, take the view that the Bund was of little importance as it was under permanent Austrian control and as Austria was extremely anti-unification, would block any moves towards unification. Other historians, Fullbrook and Waller disagree with Taylor’s opinion as Prussia’s population was doubled due to territorial gains therefore increasing her power. Undoubtedly, most would agree that eit gave the German states a taste for unification in the very format it followed, even if, it was more of a means to perpetuate the divisions of Germany. After the revolutions of 1848, the Frankfurt diet was set up and was a further development which aided unification. Despite failing after a short period of time, it did set the climate for future development and gave middle classes a sample of a united Germany. Political factors were very important as they improved relationships between the states and made co-operation and co-ordination easier. Bismarck was able to build on these relations later when it came to uniting the South German States and the North German States.
In addition to these factors, the key position of Prussia after 1862 played a big part in the achievement of Kliendeutch unification. By 1836, Prussia had already emerged as the economic leader of the states due to her control of the Zollverien, which Austria had no say in, and she controlled the main trade rivers of central Europe. This, in addition to the mineral output of Prussia gave her an upper hand in disputes and decisions. Additionally, Prussia’s political system was one of modern bureaucracy and was politically stable holding a liberal, nationalistic stance ready to be expanded to the other states in the event of unification. For these reasons, Prussia was in prime position to act as the leader who would unify Germany. Moreover, she had shown her leadership skills successfully by heading the Zollverien and had the core requirements for industrial development through rich minerals, a growing population and clear communication routes. The 1862 army reforms, admittedly forced through by Bismarck, increased Prussian military strength considerably. Conscription was extended from 2 to 3 years; state of the art weaponry was introduced, most notably the needle gun. The army produced not only physically but tactfully well trained soldiers, under strong, decisive amenable leadership. Prussia was able to emerge as a strong leader in favour of unification whilst Austria appeared weak by comparison as she just did not have the core requirements for military or industrial development. She also failed to become the economic leader of the states. Austria’s conservative ideals became less and less influential; more of the people and states began following Prussia.
Finally, Most historians would have to agree that the introduction of Bismarck in 1862 was a fundamental reason that German unification was achieved by 1871. His importance is considered as key as, in consideration nationalist movements had been occurring since 1815 with no real success, yet after he becomes a prominent figure it is achieved within just nine years. For this reason, he is often considered to have had a catalytic effect on German unity. Firstly, it was Bismarck who came to the rescue during the constitutional crisis and against the wished of the ruling elite, illegally collected taxes to reform the army. It was this action, which transformed the Prussian army into a proficient fighting force, doubling their size and placing Prussia in key position to be leader of the unification of Germany. From the onset, Bismarck argued that Prussians would have to fight to be unified. In one of his most famous speeches, he said “Not by speeches and majorities will the great questions of the day be decided … but by iron and blood”. Bismarck, after solving the constitutional crisis, was appointed prime minister by King Frederick Willhelm and the king nearly always took his advice after that. Bismarck led his state into three wars, later known as the wars of unification. Bismarck’s political acumen can be most clearly seen in the duration of these wars. The war with Denmark in 1864 occurred mainly because of a dispute concerning the two duchies on the border between Denmark and the German Bund: Schleswig and Holstein. It was arranged in the London protocol that these areas would remain mainly independent under the control of the Dukes who ruled them. However, in 1864, Denmark attempted to annex these areas, one of which, Holstein, was a member of the Bund. Bismarck showed his initiative and was quick to react. Realising an opportunity to show his support of unification and to demonstrate the success of the army reforms. Bismarck then convinced Austria to fight with her, leaving Denmark isolated against the daunting combined force of Prussia and Austria and so quickly backed down. At the end of the war, Austria was given control of Holstein and Prussia was given control of Schleswig, this gave Prussia an edge as she now controlled any access to Holstein. Over the next two years, Prussia sought to isolate Austria and managed due to a succession of agreements: Napoleon III was met at Biarritz and left with the idea that remaining neutral during a Prussian war with Austria would lead to him gaining land “wherever French is spoken”, Prussia helped Russia crush a polish uprising after the Crimean war, the Tsar felt indebted to Bismarck and so agreed to remain neutral. Bismarck allied with Italy who was promised Venetia in return for the significant difficulties imposed on Austria by a two front war. Thus, by 1866 Austria found herself without allies facing a war against Prussia after she violated the terms of the Gastein Convention and was forced to declare war after Bismarck provoked her by calling for the creation of a German state excluding Austria. Finally, Austria was defeated which led to not only the formation of a North German Confederation but also the South German States being separated from Austria resulting in a swell of patriotism and unification playing on the minds of many. Bismarck was careful to make a lenient peace with Austria, ensuring no feelings of bitterness would cause her to become involved in future conflict. The main obstacle had been removed and now the idea of unification seemed plausible. The last obstacle in Bismarck’s way was the French. The war with France is considered by historians to be an example of Bismarck taking a situation out with his control and using it to his advantage The Franco-Prussian war of 1870 mainly surrounded an incident dubbed the Hohenzollern Candidature. In 1868, a revolution in Spain led to a search for a new ruler. A distant relative of the Spanish royal family was found, Leopold of Hohenzollern. However Leopold was a Prussian. France was very worried as future conflicts may leave her surrounded by Prussians. The French protested strongly and even insisted the Hohenzollern family should give up their claim to the throne forever. King Willhelm was on holiday at a health resort called Ems when he received the French demand; he politely refused and send Bismarck a telegram informing him of what had happened and how he intended to reply to the French. Bismarck saw his chance and altered the telegram slightly to make it sound as id the king had insulted the French ambassador by refusing to meet him. Bismarck then sent his own version of the Ems telegram to the French and German newspapers for publication. The edited version of the telegram had the effect Bismarck intended. The French government responded to the anger of the public over the “Prussian insult” by declaring war. Bismarck had what he wanted. France appeared as the aggressor in a war against Prussia, thus ensuring the neutrality of the other powers. The strong Prussian army was able to defeat the French and a peace settlement was reached in the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles, in which the German states achieved unity. Therefore, Bismarck’s role arguably acted as a catalyst and his ability to manipulate events and engineer situations saw the unification occur in 1871.
In conclusion, Several factors aided German unification, for example cultural nationalism, which romanticised the idea of a united Germany, bringing the spirit of nationalism to the upper classes and universities. Political nationalism also helped with organisations like the Bund debating a Kliendeutch/Grossdeutch approach to nationalism, a reduction in the number of fragmented states made cooperation and coordination much easier. Most would argue however that more important was the economic factors
