The German Confederation
In the early 19th century, German-speaking territories were divided into several hundred principalities, free cities, and duchies. The Congress of Vienna in 1815 established the German Confederation, a loose association of 39 states, as a result of the Napoleonic Wars.
The Confederation was dominated by Austria and Prussia, which were the most powerful states. The Confederation had a federal government that included a diet, which was a parliament of representatives from each state, and a president who was elected by the diet.
Political Fragmentation
The political fragmentation of the German-speaking territories made it difficult for the Confederation to establish a common foreign policy, defense, or economic system. Moreover, the Confederation was plagued by nationalist and liberal movements that challenged the status quo of the conservative elites.
For instance, the 1848 revolutions in Europe led to uprisings in several German states, demanding political reforms, civil liberties, and national unification. However, the revolutions were crushed by the reactionary forces, and the Confederation remained intact.
The Zollverein and Economic Integration
One of the few successes of the Confederation was the establishment of the Zollverein, a customs union that abolished internal tariffs and facilitated free trade among the member states. The Zollverein was created in 1834 and expanded gradually to include most German states by the 1850s.
The Zollverein boosted the industrialization and modernization of Germany, especially in the areas of transportation, communication, and banking. It also paved the way for the emergence of a national economy and a sense of common identity among the Germans.
The German Empire
The Wars of Unification
The unification of Germany was achieved through a series of wars and diplomatic maneuvers led by Prussia under the leadership of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. The first war was with Denmark in 1864, over the control of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein.
The second war was with Austria in 1866, over the hegemony of the German Confederation. Prussia decisively defeated Austria in the Battle of Sadowa and dissolved the Confederation, creating the North German Confederation under its leadership.
The third war was with France in 1870-71, over the candidacy of a Hohenzollern prince to the Spanish throne. France declared war on Prussia, hoping to prevent the rise of a powerful Germany. However, Prussia and its allies, including the South German states, defeated France and proclaimed the German Empire in 1871.
The Structure of the Empire
The German Empire was a federal state composed of 25 states, including four kingdoms, six grand duchies, five duchies, seven principalities, and three free cities. The King of Prussia was also the Emperor of Germany, and the Reichstag was a parliament elected by universal suffrage.
The Empire had a strong executive branch, with the Chancellor appointed by the Emperor and responsible to him. The Chancellor had wide powers over foreign policy, defense, and interior affairs. The Empire also had a complex system of federalism, with the states retaining some autonomy and the Empire having some central authority.
Question & Answer
Q: What was the German Confederation?
A: The German Confederation was a loose association of 39 states that was established in 1815 after the Napoleonic Wars. It had a federal government that included a diet and a president, and was dominated by Austria and Prussia.
Q: What was the Zollverein?
A: The Zollverein was a customs union that abolished internal tariffs and facilitated free trade among the member states of the German Confederation. It was created in 1834 and expanded gradually to include most German states by the 1850s. It boosted the industrialization and modernization of Germany and paved the way for a national economy and identity.
Q: How was Germany unified?
A: Germany was unified through a series of wars and diplomatic maneuvers led by Prussia under the leadership of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. The wars included the wars against Denmark in 1864, against Austria in 1866, and against France in 1870-71. The result was the proclamation of the German Empire in 1871.
Q: What was the structure of the German Empire?
A: The German Empire was a federal state composed of 25 states, including four kingdoms, six grand duchies, five duchies, seven principalities, and three free cities. The King of Prussia was also the Emperor of Germany, and the Reichstag was a parliament elected by universal suffrage. The Empire had a strong executive branch, with the Chancellor appointed by the Emperor and responsible to him, and a complex system of federalism.
