German+Unification+1850+1871

Ibraihim Boudoua February 10th 2010
 * __German Unification 1850 - 1871 __**


 * __The Unification of Germany 1850 – 1870 __**


 *  The aim of the German Confederation **was to guarantee the piece of germany and the independence of the member states. The main organization behind this Confederation was called the Federal Diet which was stated at Frankfurt. Federal Diet consisted of 17 members; some of the smaller states were grouped together with one member that’s why they weren’t 39 members. The Federal Diet provided some bases for the building of the German nations because it became a focal point for the development of cooperation and consultation amongst the German states. The Federal Diet is considered an important element that brought about the unification of Germany because it was a focal point for all states. At the Federal Diet, Prince Otto Van Bismarck was the first one willing to discuss German Unification. Metternich at the time was the president of the Federal Diet; he had the right to decide upon the business to be discussed and the procedures to be discussed. Obviously he did not want the unification of Germany. Instead, Metternich wanted to divide and conqueror because he believed it was much easier for him to have power over states that were divided instead of having power amongst a united state. Metternich wanted to make sure that the states that came upon discussion were few or any. Therefore at this moment in time the possibility of a German Unification is not as plausible because Metternich does not allow it. The division of Austria suited Metternich’s policies at the time.

 Bismarck does not want to appear as the aggressor, he wants to appear as diplomatic and cooperative in regards to the other European states.
 * Bismarck foreign Policy: **he wanted to unite france Germany under Prussian control. He wanted to unite Germany under Prussian control by defeating Austria and expel her from the German Confederation.In order to consolidate such a position and make Germany the strongest state in Europe he would have to defeat the France of Napoleon the Third because Napoleon is not going to allow the German Confederation without a struggle


 * __Bismarck’s Policy towards the Dispute: __** Bismarck had no intention of staying part from this controversy, infact he saw this dispute as a convenient development as far as his own aims were concerned. Therefore Bismarck not also is political astute but is also pretty lucky, considering that such events happen right in the moment he needs them to happen.


 * __Bismarck’s Policy Post the Seven Weeks War: __** Bismarck decides to impose a very moderate treaty on the Austrians; he decided not to take a lot of territory from the Austrians. Bismarck had absolutely no scruples and he was never ever rash, he was cautious and reflective. Even though he could impose a very severe treaty on Austria he does not do so, because if he does he would make Napoleon III extremely suspicious on his future aims. Napoleon III was hoping that the war between Austria and Prussia would have been long, so much that he had to come in as arbiter and bring peace between them, as a treat for this he hoped to receive: Belgium, Luxembourg and the Rhine areas. Napoleon though soon realized he was mistaken because the war lasted only 7 weeks, therefore he was mistaken, disappointed. In order to now act prudently and not bring about the suspicion of Napoleon Bismarck decides to impose a moderate treaty on Austria.

There is now a unified Germany which is strong economically, politically and militarily. William I was crowned the German Kaiser (leader), Bismarck is the councilor of Germany which is the highest official below the Kaiser. So basically there is now a Germany being ruled a powerful Kaiser and a powerful councilor. Basically the power was __still__ in the hand of the aristocrats, because William I and Bismarck do not favor democracy. The unification of Germany had great significance for Europe. A powerful aggressive new state had now appeared in central Europe. Germany has a supreme army, with a growing population and its industries were industrial and economic/commercial expansion. Now that German is unified there is a new problem: BALANCE OF POWER.  Other countries now start to fear this new country, and the new Germany threatened the BALANCE OF POWER in Europe and as a result created tensions, rivalry, fears that eventually would lead to war.
 * __Germany United: __**

 The German Unification, some historians believe, was not only brought about by Bismarck’s political skills. The basic source in Germany’s increased strength lay in its rapid economic growth. In fact the economy in Germany was so great that it allowed Germany to go through two World Wars. <span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';"> During unification Germany also went through an industrial revolution, which made Germany under Britain the most powerful industrialized country in Europe. Germany was able to industrialize at a much faster pace than Great Britain. This was because the countries that industrialized after Great Britain were able to get only the positive decisions took by Britain and avoid mistakes.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';">German Economic Growth 1850-1870: ( __**<span style="font-family: 'Tahoma','sans-serif';">taking place during the unification**__)__**