Bismarck and unification of germany 1848-71

Anyone fancy explaining to me in simple terms the Erfurt Union and the Danish war and their significance?

EEE-SAY. Here we go.

The Prussian Union Plan was unacceptable to Austria (reduced role of Austrias influence in German). However, Schwarzenburg was distracted by the Hungarian uprising at the time and could not deal with the situation.

It gave Prussias army (strongest ger authority) to press the plan. "Three Kings Alliance' between Prussia, Saxony and Hanover was the first step up. It was followed by smaller states agreeing to the Prussian Plan. Radowitz in the momentum called reps of all the states to Erfut in March 1950.

-A new Reich was formed.
-28 states agreed to a Prussian dominated Erfurt Union
-Some imp states didn't join fearful of Austrias reaction.

It prompted an Austrian response, which pulled major states like Hanover?, Saxony etc away from the idea with a shared power under an Austrian plan.

Then there was that whole Hesse Cassel affair...

By Danish war, do you mean the one in 1864? A little confused, or are you talking about the Danish war scare!? Which prompted nationalism within Ger ?

Holldddddd up!

Wasn't Hollestien and Schleswig divided between Austria and Prussia. I forget which one it is, but one was more predominately Prussian, the other more predominately Austrian/Danish. And then both Austria and Prussia had "Dual Authority" over the Duchies.

*Runs to find text book to check*

Holstein went to Austria and Schleswig to Prussia- just checked lol

New q- what did the revolutions of 1848/49 reveal about the weaknesses of those pressing for greater German unity? (20)

-Wasn't widespread, riots in Berlin & unrest in Rhineland & Silesia. In smaller states peasants attacked land lords. In Baden there was a brief republic.

-Revolutionary division, the liberals vs. the radicals/republicans. Different aims (Grossdeutschland vs. Kliendeutschland vs. united empire) and views.
-Social groups interest division too.

-Rural apathy, the peasants weren't in desperate need, unenthusiastic.

-Loss of support, progress of Frankfurt Parliament took too long, loss of interest, short lived.

-Conservative strength, better organized, military power, determination. Restoration of Austrian power, with its policy back on line put everyone in its place. keeping Prussia divided and weak!

wow great answer thanks
is that from memory or using the book lol!
i really need help memorising stuff in history, i just can't seem to get my head around it

I'm trying to think of more, but thats a tricky one. When I get back to this topic i'll check my notes!!

Q: What factors worked against the inclusion of the Southern states within a united Germany in 1866, but nevertheless worked for their inclusion in 1871? (40)

To expand on and add some other points:

There were openly hostile factions to Bismarck in the Southern States in 1866. A small degree of military integration was achieved by putting Prussian troops in that area. Similar to an occupation, but where the Prussian army had no authority, it was just there.

Bismarck couldn't risk a war against France over the Southern states at this point, as France was advocating her rights in the Rhineland and actively seeking to annex Luxembourg.

Bismarck had to grant some concessions to the Southern States in 1871, as a price for joining the Confederation, and ultimately becoming Germany. These included taxes on tobacco and alcohol, and some political freedoms not in other states.

I think that's a pretty hard question to get 40 marks for, you've only got 5 years to focus on!
Hope that helps though.

Yikes, thank you!!

I'm a little confused on your last point, could you elaborate? How did it work for their inclusion?

(Sorry if I'm being slow, its about 5:14 am where I am, i've been up since 1 pm)

About the concessions? Sure.

Because the Southern States didn't really want to go with Germany, and it was the fact that Bismarck wanted them more (to keep France from nabbing them) than they wanted to be with him and Germany, he had to bribe them. So, they took the opportunity to demand tax freedoms, from alcohol, tobacco and several other things that I can't remember, and some more liberal freedoms were allowed as a 'price' for joining the German state. I also think they had a different number of representatives allowed in the Reichstag, but don't hold me to that I could have just made it up.

Oh god, I must sound like a total nitpicker, but how did this prevent/work against their inclusion in 1866?

-Or did it in the sense that the taxes made the southern states more reluctant to join the North German Confederation?

Haha don't worry, we're all here to learn.
Or waste obscene amounts of time, I'm not sure which.

Erm how did it work against it in 1866? Well, basically cause they weren't being offered anything for their joining then. I'd also say that because they were closer to Austria, the Austrian elements in them were the ones that were resentful of Bismarck. And, Bismarck had forcefully annexed the North German Confederation after the Seven Weeks War, especially in the case of Hanover which was forcefully attached.

What I mean by the taxes is that they were granted freedoms. Sorry if I didn't put it clearly enough. Bismarck was forced into granting exceptions to the South states as their price for joining Germany. Whereas the rest of the nation was taxed on tobacco and alcohol, the South was not. The rest of the nation was subject to censorship and conservative rule, but the Southern states were granted some more liberal rules. Bismarck had to 'buy' them in a way.

I don't envy you being up this early for whatever insane reason.