Bismarck and unification of germany 1848-71

Zollverein - gradually excluded Austria from German economic affairs as she couldn't afford to join with the free trade principles - that was where most of her income came from. When Austria was defeated in the 1866 War, they were forced to accept the treaty of total exclusion from German affairs.

Humiliation at Olmutz 1850- when the Prussians were forced to back off by an Austrian army, going in to sort out a revolt in one of the Southern States, Hesse. This also accompanied the acceptance to dissolve the Erfurt Union - Prussias attempt to control German affairs and accept the Austrian-controlled Diet at Frankfurt - for now. This prompted a rethink by von Roon and Bismarck and this is when they started reforming and reorganisation of the army, by dismissing militia and recruiting new soldiers tobe fully trained. Weaponry and technique was upgraded making it a modern effective fighting force.

Schleswig-Holstein Crisis - allowed Prussia to first exercise their new army in 1864 against the Danes - beating them twice in battle. Schleswig and Holstein were then given to Austria and Prussia respectively, but Bismarck intended to annex the two all along, and he did this in the aftermath of the Seven Weeks War 1866.

Decline of Austria - After the Crimean War, Austria was diplomatically isolated, having annoyed the West for hesitating, and lost all relations with Russia after having joined the West eventually. Bismarck could also seize on this, using Austria's unstable empire and weakening influence to politically outmanoeuvre her in Germany. 1867, Austria was forced to sign the Ausgleich, the compromise with Hungary to rule jointly.

Franco-Prussian War 1871 - Bismarck was able to finally unite the 4 Southern German states into Germany, with his convincing them to join. He had to grant various concessions however, such as specific tax freedoms, to get their full support. He also annexed Alsace-Lorraine as a way of making sure Germany had the advantage in he next war - because, he said, France would hate Germany no matter what treaty Germany imposed on them.

Wait this is a reply to the question of?

Zollverein - gradually excluded Austria from German economic affairs as she couldn't afford to join with the free trade principles - that was where most of her income came from. When Austria was defeated in the 1866 War, they were forced to accept the treaty of total exclusion from German affairs.

Humiliation at Olmutz 1850- when the Prussians were forced to back off by an Austrian army, going in to sort out a revolt in one of the Southern States, Hesse. This also accompanied the acceptance to dissolve the Erfurt Union - Prussias attempt to control German affairs and accept the Austrian-controlled Diet at Frankfurt - for now. This prompted a rethink by von Roon and Bismarck and this is when they started reforming and reorganisation of the army, by dismissing militia and recruiting new soldiers tobe fully trained. Weaponry and technique was upgraded making it a modern effective fighting force.

Schleswig-Holstein Crisis - allowed Prussia to first exercise their new army in 1864 against the Danes - beating them twice in battle. Schleswig and Holstein were then given to Austria and Prussia respectively, but Bismarck intended to annex the two all along, and he did this in the aftermath of the Seven Weeks War 1866.

Decline of Austria - After the Crimean War, Austria was diplomatically isolated, having annoyed the West for hesitating, and lost all relations with Russia after having joined the West eventually. Bismarck could also seize on this, using Austria's unstable empire and weakening influence to politically outmanoeuvre her in Germany. 1867, Austria was forced to sign the Ausgleich, the compromise with Hungary to rule jointly.

Franco-Prussian War 1871 - Bismarck was able to finally unite the 4 Southern German states into Germany, with his convincing them to join. He had to grant various concessions however, such as specific tax freedoms, to get their full support. He also annexed Alsace-Lorraine as a way of making sure Germany had the advantage in he next war - because, he said, France would hate Germany no matter what treaty Germany imposed on them.

Why did the 1848 revolutions fail? Asses relative importance of each point.

• Therefore, political and economic discontent both caused revolutions.
• Food shortages caused by potato blight in 1846.
• Liberalism throughout German states.
• Mass of people were mainly concerned about the material effects of industrialisation on their livelihoods.
• Frankfurt Parliament in May 1848- made up of mainly educated middle classes, 4 artisans and one peasant, suggested that they would be seeking to establish a constitutional monarchy.
• Prussian King Frederick William IV, temporarily embraced the principles of the revolution by announcing in March 1848 that he would participate in the creation of a German federal/central state, the summoning of a German parliament and the establishment of constitutions in all states, including Prussia.

Wow this explanation is so much better than my notes, thanks.
Next q: how far was the Zollverein responsible for the changing power of Austria and prussia in the years 1848-66?

Although Zollverein responsible for Prussia's economic advancement, other factors contributed to Austria's political leadership- e.g. the Erfurt Union/Olmutz treaty, the Prussian revolution, and the army reforms as well as the wars (as explained above).

If anyone has any other revision/past questions then post them up on here please so we can be actively revising whilst procrasitnating on TSR!

HAHA - you learn from access to history dont you?

Please say you do!

Last years questions on this were:

a) Why was Bismarck appointed Minister-President of Prussia in 1862?
b) To what extent was the economic strength of Prussia the driving force behind German unification?

Just thought I would add them for a little more exam practice for you guys.

Haha yes we do, what a boring book lol, only one week to go though!!!