Notes

A Background on the German Nation
- Germanic Peoples form the historical foundation for many Western, Central, and Northern European Countries. Saxons, Angles, Franks, Lombards, etc are all of Germanic Origins. They incorporated a practice known as the Comitatus which is precursor to the feudal system. It was a relationship between a leader and his warriors.
- During the 1800s, the German people did not live in 1 state but spread throughout a variety of smaller states in the old Holy Roman Empire, and in Prussia and Austria.
- Napoleon’s invasion and reforms led many to identify as German instead of merely members of their “local state”, but creation of a German state was denied at the time.
- In the 1830s, Tariffs between German states reduced economic growth. Lack of tariffs in England allowed for tremendous industrialization. In order to promote Industry and trade, Prussia created a German economic union called the Zollverein which united the German states economically and removed tariffs, but did not do so politically.
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Building the German State
- The eventual driving force in German Unification was Prussian chancellor, Otto von Bismarck. His policies and actions would unite Germany under Prussian leadership.
- Realpolitik: Bismarck was a master of realism and practicality in politics. He would alter his agenda to realistic needs of the state as opposed to ideals.
- Building the Prussian Army: Used government funds to increase the size and improve the quality of the Prussian army, making it the most modern, best equipped, and powerful army in Europe.
- Military Victory against German Nations: Bismarck used the Prussian army to annex land from German neighbors like Denmark and Austria. He would later dissolve Austrian Power over the remaining independent Germanic States and replace it with Prussian leadership.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Creation of the German Empire
- Military Victory vs. France: In order to forge unity, Bismarck began to use France, a traditional enemy of Germany, as a source of anger and inspiration. Under Napoleon, many German states were defeated and the resentment still lingered which allowed Bismarck to create a hostile situation.
- After a meeting between the French and Prussian heads of state, Bismarck provided a revised version of the meeting to the press in which the Prussian leader insulted the French monarch. In response to the “insult”, France declared war on Prussia. Since Prussia did not start the war, their “defense” felt justified.
- The Prussian Army with support of other German states destroyed the France in short order in what would be called “The Franco-Prussian War”.
- After the victory, the German States convinced Prussian leader William I to accept the title of Kaiser of The German Empire. he was crowned in the Palace of Versailles.