German nationalism Otto von Bismarck & German Unification
Dec 13, 2015
German nationalism
Otto von Bismarck & German Unification
Bell Ringer
• What is nationalism?
Discuss with Partner1 minute
Zollverein
• Von Metternich - Opposed a united Germany
• Prussia stepped forward• Zollverein: economic union
– Eliminated tariff barriers among German states
• Still politically fragmented
Otto von Bismarck• Prussian Junker
– Junker = conservative noble class
• 1862 – became chancellor under King Wilhelm I
• In just under 10 years, Bismarck would unify Germany under Prussian rule
Prussian Power
• Recognized importance of strong military
• Wanted more money spent on military
• Parliament said “no”• Famous “Blood and Iron” speech
Bismarck (cont.)
“Germany does not look to Prussia’s liberalism, but to her power…The great questions of the day are not to be decided by speeches and majority resolutions – that was the mistake of 1848 and 1849 – but by blood and iron!”
Blood and Iron
Discuss with your partner what you think Bismarck meant by Germany’s power will be determined by “blood and iron.”
2 Minutes
Realpolitik
• Strong will• Powerful manipulator• Master of “Realpolitik” – politics of
reality• Politics based on practical matters
rather than theory or ethics• Often resulted in ruthless decisions
REALpolitik at work
• Had wars with Austria & other territories - Prussia easily won
• No harsh terms of peace• Allowed Austria & some other
German states to remain independent
• Why would he do this?? Discuss with partner 1 minute
Practical Motives
• “We had to avoid leaving behind any desire for revenge.” – Otto von Bismarck
1870: Franco-Prussian War
• Growing rivalry between:– France (Napoleon III)– Prussia (Wilhelm I & Bismarck)
• Relative of Wilhelm offered Spanish throne
• France protested• Bismarck rallies Germans (all
Germans)
Ems Dispatch
• Bismarck rewrote & released in the press a telegram
• Wilhelm “insulted” French ambassador
• Napoleon III (France) declared war on Prussia
“On to Berlin!”
• France attacked Prussia
• Prussia – military superiority
• Spanked France • Napoleon III
surrendered (taken captive)
Germany Unifies
• January 18,1871• German Confederation made official • Bismarck + 600 German princes,
nobles, and generals gathered at Versailles
• Wilhelm I of Prussia proclaimed Kaiser of the Second German Empire
France Pays the Cost of Peace
• Peace treaty signed May 1871• France paid $1 billion and had to give
up the provinces of Alsace & Lorraine• All that was left were bitter feelings
and the desire for revenge…
Italian unification
Beginnings of Italian Nationalism
• Italian Peninsula - not unified since fall of Roman Empire
• Despite common language, most of peninsula divided into competing states with own government
Beginnings (cont.)
• Napoleon invaded Italy– United many states under one gov’t– Congress of Vienna - split Italian states
• Spirit of nationalism began to rise
National Groups Ignored
• COV had ignored national groups• Placed them under control of large
empires (sometimes w/ mixed ethnicities)
• Some states were under Austrian control, while others were under French control
Secret Societies
Italian artists, writers, thinkers became interested in celebrating Italy’s cultural traditions
Others formed secret societies to work for political change
Some even plotted to overthrow the Austrian government in Italy
Mazzini & Young Italy
1831, popular writer, Giuseppe Mazzini, launched a nationalist group called Young Italy to fight for unification of the Italian states
Mazzini had been exiled but smuggled patriotic pamphlets into Italy
Young Italy attracted tens of thousands of Italians to the cause of unification
The Path Toward Unity
• As nationalism grew, some Italians led unsuccessful rebellions
• Then, two men rose to lead a successful movement to unify Italy…
Count Cavour• Camilio di Cavour• Fought for Sardinia’s
independence• One of the most
important leaders of Italian unification
• Founded the nationalist newspaper, Il Risorgimento - or “resurgence”
Kingdom of Sardinia
• 1852, Cavour became Prime Minister• Worked toward rebuilding a thriving
economy so that Italy could unify (as a monarchy)
• Cavour aligned Sardinia with France– Sardinia supported France in war with
Russia & gave them the provinces of Savoy & Nice
– In turn, France supported Sardinia in its war against Austria - (successful liberation)
Check for Understanding
• How did Cavour help Sardinia break free from the Austrian Empire?
Garibaldi & the Red Shirts
• Many Italians consider Cavour “brain” of Italian unification, Mazzini “heart”
• Giuseppe Garibaldi has been called “sword” of Italy
• Garibaldi joined Young Italy movement, 1833• Nationalist activities forced Garibaldi to flee Italy
twice• Learned techniques of guerilla warfare while
living in South America• Returned to Italy often to continue fight to free
Italy from Austrian domination
Garibaldi’s Return
• 1854, Garibaldi returned for good
• Cavour asked to lead part of Sardinian army in war against Austria
• After bitter fighting, Austrians agreed to give up Lombardy, retaining Venetia
The Red Shirts• Followers known as Red Shirts because of colorful
uniforms
• By July 1860, using guerilla warfare, Garibaldi, Red Shirts gained control of island of Sicily
• September, Garibaldi, Sardinian troops conquered Naples
• Red Shirts now controlled southern part Italian peninsula
• Garibaldi wanted a republic, but ultimately offered the Kingdom of Two Sicilies to Sardinian king Victor Emmanuel
Unification
• 1861, territories held elections, all agreed to unification
• Holdouts were Venetia, still belonging to Austria; Papal States, under French troops supporting pope
• 1866, Prussia defeated Austria, gave Venetia to Italy
• 1870, Prussia forced French to withdraw from Rome
• Italian troops entered Rome, completed unification under King Victor Emmanuel
Question (write a 4 paragraph
response)• What are the similarities and
differences between Italian and German Unification? In other words, in what ways was the process of unification similar and in what ways were they different?
I. Intro: Thesis II. Body: 1 paragraph with similarities and 1
paragraph with differencesIII. Conclusion: Restate thesis