German Unification (Part I: The Failure of Liberal Nationalism) / Deutsche Einigung

Tom Richey
17 Feb 201508:54
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThis lecture delves into the pivotal period of German unification, a key political development in Europe from 1848 to 1914. It highlights the struggle between Austria and Prussia for dominance and the rise of German nationalism, influenced by Napoleon's restructuring of the Holy Roman Empire. The lecture explores the concepts of 'Gross Deutschland' and 'Kleine Deutschland,' the economic unification through the Zollverein, and the failed liberal attempt to unify Germany via the Frankfurt Parliament, culminating in Prussia's rejection of a crown offered by a legislative body.

Takeaways
  • 📚 German unification was the most significant political development in Europe between 1848 and 1914, setting the stage for the world wars.
  • 🌐 Two dominant German states, Austria and Prussia, existed alongside several smaller German states, leading to a complex political landscape.
  • 🏰 The Holy Roman Empire's dissolution by Napoleon contributed to the rise of German nationalism and the idea of a unified German state.
  • 🗣️ The concept of nationalism played a crucial role in German unification, emphasizing the unity of people who speak the same language.
  • 🔄 The German unifiers aimed to unify the 39 German states under a single political entity.
  • 🤝 Two models for German unification were proposed: 'Gross Deutschland' (big Germany, including Austria) and 'Kleine Deutschland' (small Germany, excluding Austria).
  • 🛣️ The Zollverein (sovereign) was the first economic union in Europe without a political union, abolishing internal tariffs between northern German states.
  • 🏛️ The Frankfurt Parliament attempted to draft a constitution for a unified Germany based on liberalism, but this effort ultimately failed.
  • 👑 Frederick William IV of Prussia rejected the crown offered by the Frankfurt Parliament, preferring to remain a divine right monarch.
  • 🚫 The first attempt to unify Germany on a liberal basis was unsuccessful, reflecting the complex and often conservative nature of German politics at the time.
Q & A

  • What is considered the single most important political development in Europe between 1848 and 1914?

    -German unification is considered the single most important political development in Europe between 1848 and 1914.

  • How did the Holy Roman Empire contribute to the division in Germany?

    -The Holy Roman Empire, which was neither holy nor Roman nor an empire by Voltaire's description, was dissolved by Napoleon. This led to the rise of German nationalism and the desire for unification among the numerous German states that resulted from the empire's dissolution.

  • What were the two dominant German states during the period of division?

    -The two dominant German states during the period of division were Austria and Prussia.

  • What is the significance of the quote by the unnamed individual about the natural boundaries of states?

    -The quote emphasizes the idea of nationalism, suggesting that states should be unified based on shared language and cultural bonds, which is a natural state of being rather than one imposed by human constructs.

  • What were the two models for German unification?

    -The two models for German unification were Gross Deutschland (Big Germany), which would include Austria, and Klein Deutschland (Small Germany), which would exclude Austria.

  • What was the Zollverein and how did it contribute to German unification?

    -The Zollverein was a German free trade agreement that abolished all internal tariffs in the northern part of Germany between Prussia and various other states. It was the first economic union in Europe without a political union, paving the way for future economic cooperation and integration.

  • What happened during the revolutions of 1848 in relation to German unification?

    -During the revolutions of 1848, German unifiers convened the Frankfurt Parliament, which was the first pan-German parliament. They attempted to draft a constitution for a unified Germany based on liberalism, but this effort ultimately failed.

  • What was the proposed political structure of the unified Germany during the Frankfurt Parliament?

    -The Frankfurt Parliament proposed a constitutional monarchy with a two-house legislature, consisting of the Statten House (House of the States) and the Volks House (House of the People).

  • Why did Frederick William IV of Prussia reject the crown offered by the Frankfurt Parliament?

    -Frederick William IV rejected the crown because he did not want a crown that was given to him by a legislature. As a monarch who believed in divine right, he felt that the crown should not be granted by a political body.

  • What was the outcome of the first attempt to unify Germany on a liberal basis?

    -The first attempt to unify Germany on a liberal basis, which involved the Frankfurt Parliament and the drafting of a constitution, ultimately failed.

Outlines
00:00
🌐 Introduction to German Unification

This paragraph introduces the topic of German unification, highlighting its significance as the most important political development in Europe between 1848 and 1914. It sets the stage for the world wars and Germany's emergence as a great power. The speaker acknowledges students Caitlin and Regina and expresses hope to cover the topic before their test. The historical context is established by mentioning the division of Germany into multiple states, with Prussia and Austria as dominant powers. The role of nationalism and the desire for a unified German state speaking the same language is emphasized, setting up the discussion for the unification process.

05:02
📜 Economic Union and the Frankfurt Parliament

This paragraph delves into the first attempts at German unification through economic means, specifically the Zollverein or sovereign, which created an economic union without political unity. The revolutions of 1848 and the subsequent Frankfurt Parliament are discussed as key events that attempted to advance German unification on a liberal basis. The Parliament's efforts to draft a constitution for a unified Germany, including a constitutional monarchy and a two-house legislature, are detailed. However, the attempt ultimately fails when Frederick William IV of Prussia rejects the crown offered by the Parliament, signifying the end of this liberal unification effort.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡German Unification
German Unification refers to the political and social process that led to the consolidation of various German-speaking territories into a single, unified German state. This process is central to the video's theme, as it reshaped the political landscape of Europe and set the stage for the world wars. The video discusses the historical context, key players like Prussia and Austria, and the impact of unification on the balance of power in Europe.
💡Austria and Prussia
Austria and Prussia were two dominant German states during the period of German unification. They played significant roles in shaping the course of unification, with Prussia eventually becoming the leading force behind the unification process. The rivalry and cooperation between these two states were crucial in determining the nature of the unified Germany.
💡Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a multi-ethnic complex of territories in central Europe that existed for over a thousand years until its dissolution in 1806 by Napoleon. The video uses the Holy Roman Empire as a historical reference point to illustrate the long-standing division in Germany and the rise of German nationalism following the empire's collapse.
💡Nationalism
Nationalism is a political and social ideology that emphasizes the importance of a shared national identity, often based on a common language, culture, or history. In the context of the video, German nationalism was a driving force behind the unification movement, as it promoted the idea of uniting the various German-speaking states into one nation.
💡German Confederation
The German Confederation was an association of 39 German states formed after the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire in 1806. It was an attempt to maintain a loose political structure among the German states, but it lacked a strong central authority. The video highlights the German Confederation as the context in which the push for unification gained momentum.
💡Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference held after the Napoleonic Wars, where European powers sought to reestablish the balance of power and redraw the political map of Europe. The video points out that the Congress left unresolved the question of which state—Austria or Prussia—would dominate the German-speaking peoples, a question that would be central to the unification process.
💡Zollverein (Sovereign)
The Zollverein, also known as the Customs Union, was an economic agreement among German states that abolished internal tariffs in the northern part of Germany. It was the first instance of an economic union without a political union in Europe and laid the groundwork for later economic cooperation among European states. The video emphasizes the Zollverein as a significant step towards German unification through economic integration.
💡Frankfurt Parliament
The Frankfurt Parliament was a gathering of representatives from various German states that convened in 1848 to draft a constitution for a unified Germany. Although it ultimately failed to achieve its goal, it represented the first attempt at creating a pan-German political entity based on liberal principles.
💡Liberalism
Liberalism is a political philosophy that advocates for individual rights, democracy, and limited government intervention. In the context of the video, the Frankfurt Parliament's attempt to unify Germany was based on liberal principles, aiming to create a constitutional monarchy with a two-house legislature.
💡Constitutional Monarchy
A constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a written or unwritten constitution. The video describes the proposed government structure for a unified Germany, which included a constitutional monarchy with a two-house legislature, reflecting a blend of traditional monarchy with modern democratic principles.
💡Frederick William IV
Frederick William IV was the King of Prussia during the period of German unification. He is notable in the video for his refusal to accept the crown offered by the Frankfurt Parliament, which symbolizes the failure of the liberal attempt to unify Germany and the eventual shift towards a more conservative and Prussian-led unification process.
Highlights

German unification is the most important political development in Europe between 1848 and 1914.

German unification sets the stage for the world wars and fundamentally alters the balance of power in Europe.

Two dominant German states, Austria and Prussia, existed alongside several smaller German states.

The Holy Roman Empire was abolished by Napoleon, leading to the rise of German nationalism.

German unifiers aimed to unify the 39 German states under a single entity.

Nationalism is tied to the unity of people who speak the same language.

Prussia and Austria were the dominant states, with the question of who would dominate a unified Germany left unanswered after the Congress of Vienna.

Prussia was a modern, industrialized military state, unlike anything else in 19th-century Europe.

There were two models for German unification: big Germany (Gross Deutschland) including Austria, and small Germany (Kleine Deutschland) excluding Austria.

The first effort to unify Germany was through economics with the German free trade agreement (Zollverein).

The Zollverein was the first economic union in Europe without a political union.

The revolutions of 1848 led to the Frankfurt Parliament, an attempt to draft a constitution for a unified Germany based on liberalism.

The Frankfurt Parliament proposed a constitutional monarchy with a two-house legislature, similar to the American system.

Frederick William IV of Prussia rejected the crown offered by the Frankfurt Parliament.

The attempt to unite Germany on a liberal basis ultimately failed.

The concept of nationalism and the natural unity of people speaking the same language was central to the unification movement.

The German unification process involved both political and economic strategies.

The question of Austrian inclusion or exclusion in a unified Germany was a significant point of contention.

The Congress of Vienna and the actions of Metternich played a role in shaping the path to German unification.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

German Unification | 3 Minute History

Ten Minute History - German Unification and Empire (Short Documentary)

E.H. Gombrich 'A Little History of the World' 38. Two New States in Europe part one

Revolutions of 1848 in Italy (Part 4 of 5)

The German Wars of Unification - Bismarck's Rise I GLORY & DEFEAT

Hitler: A Strategy of Failure (WWII Documentary)

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
German UnificationEuropean HistoryPolitical DevelopmentNationalismPrussiaAustriaHoly Roman EmpireNapoleonCongress of ViennaFrankfurt ParliamentLiberalismEconomic UnionMilitary State19th CenturyWorld Wars