German Unification 1850s – 1871

People and Terms to know • Manteuffel Chancellor to King Frederick William IV• Chancellor: head of government (equiv to GB Prime Minister)• Regent: ruler of country while monarch is ill/absent or weak• William 1: successor to KWF IV, 1861• Nationalverein: German National Union 1859 – Aim: 1 central gvt for all Germany• Progressive Party: Prussian Liberal Party • Junkers: German landlords/aristocracy – support monarch• Budget: A spending plan proposed by monarch• Mobilisation: preparation and movement of armed forces for war• Von Roon: War Minister to KW1• Von Moltke: Chief of Staff (Commander of Army)• Landwehr: part-time soldiers, favoured Liberals• National Liberals: would give support to Monarch‘s plan• Landtag: Lower House of Parliament (=GB House of Commons)• Impasse: stalemate. • Abdication: give up the throne/crown• Luckentheorie: loop hole in Prussian Constitution Bismarck used to carry on with

military budget spending in 1861• Realpolitik:: doing what is practical as opposed to doing what is ideal.• Opportunism: taking advantage of opportunities as they arise.

The Prussian Constitutional Crisis

• Cameron, Robertson, Henderson p63 – 78

Constitutional Crisis (1)

• King William 1 was a leading figure in German unification because:

• Replaced conservative, Manteuffel, with a liberal minister

• Believed in unification. Prussia as leader

Proposed changes to Prussian army:

• Army training 2-3 years full time for all men.• 3-4 years training in reserves• Landwehr (part-timesoldiers) to be abolished• 49 more regiments• 9million thalers (£1.5mill) per year to pay for

changes• New weapons to be intro’d• Army strength increased from 230,000 to

450,000.

Why military changes?

• Prussian military support of Austria vs France was shambolic

• Traditionally Prussian army strong/proud

• KWI was a soldier himself

• Re-establish Prussian authority in Europe

Why Liberal Opposition to Military proposals

• Reforms would make men more loyal to King. They would oppose Liberals (evidence 1848)

• Junkers power and influence would increase.• Landwehr – Liberal supporters – would decrease• Cost of reforms = increased taxes. Liberals =

middle classes = taxpayers.

The Crisis– Prussian Constitution allows PT to agree/veto the budget– KW wants to spend on army development– 1860 Liberal PT refuses whole budget – agree to 1 year

spending– KW goes ahead anyway because is supported by Upper

House (Junkers)– 1861 same again but splits Liberals: National Libs accept

budget. Progressives reject totally.– Elections 1861. Progressive Pty big victory. Refuse budget.– KW dissolves PT. – More elections– Same again– CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS!!!!!!!!!!– IMPASSE: no give from either side. Stalemate.

Possible solutions to the Crisis

• KW abolish PT, rule by decree• KW sees himself as a failure. Suggests

abdication!• Appoint new Chancellor.

Decision

• Solution iii: Appoint Otto Von Bismarck as the new Chancellor. 1862

• Summoned to Prussia by Von Roon• “Periculum in mora. Dépêchez-vous!”• “Delay is dangerous, hurry!”

BISMARCK the man

l to r. Bismarck, von Roon, von Moltke

The statesman/politician

The soldier

The congenial gentleman

(the ladies’ man!)