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The Congress of Vienna
In the reorganisation of Europe after the defeat of Napoleon, the Congress of Vienna (1815) confirmed a confederation of 39 German states (comprising free cities, duchies, princely territories as well as the larger kingdoms of Prussia and Bravaria) all under the presidency of Austria. In these German states the forces of conservatism dominated and it was claimed that "legitimate" governments had been rightfully restored after the Napoleonic disruption. -
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Timeline of 19th Century Germany
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The Carlsbad Decrees
The Carlsbad Decrees were a series of restrictive laws in the German states agreed to by the representatives of the German princes meeting at the town of Carlsbad. The decrees repressed political protest through: *censorship of the pres
*suppression of the Burschenschaften
*control of universities and schools
*a ban on political meetings -
Growth of Prussian influence
The influence of Prussia in the German states grew as a consequence of Prussia's early industrialisation and interest trade. In 1834, 18 states joined together in a customs union under Prussian leadership. Austria was not a member of the customs union and her non-participation eventually pushed her to the fringe of German economic life. -
1848
Following revolutions in France (February) and Vienna (March) there were uprising in German states as the middle and working class demanded reforms. Poor harvests in Europe caused food shortages and a downturn in the economy increased unemployment in the cities. All this contributed to political unrest. Under pressure from a revolutionary mob in Berlin the Prussian king, William IV, promised to grant a constitution and to merge Prussia into a new Germany. -
The Frankfurt Assembly
In May 18, 1848, elected representatives (mainly Liberals) from the German states met at the Frankfurt Assembly to draw up plans for a united Germany. Debates about the possible inclusion of Austria in the new Germany, the nature of the future constitution and the choice of a monarch continued into 1849, but there was little agreement. The assembly was powerless. It had no troops and had no way of enforcing its decisions. -
Appointment of Bismarck as Prussian chancellor
King Willian I of Prussia, faced with parliamentary opposition to his plans to expand the Prussian army, appointed Otto von Bismarck as his chancellor. The king believed that Bismarck might be able to deal with the Liberals who were blocking Bismarck's plans by refusing to vote money for the army reforms. Bismarck was determined that the army reforms would go ahead, for he believed that the major foreign affairs issue of the day were to be decided by military means. -
The Danish War
In 1864, the Danish War (Prussia lef German states in war against Denmark) was fought over the disputed territories of Schleswig and Holstein. This was won by Austria and Prussia who thereafter administered the territories jointly. This was the second military conflict as resuly of the Schleswig-Holstein dispute. -
Formation of North German Confederation under Prussia
As the results of Bismarck's 1864 and 1866 wars, the North German Confederation was formed in 1866. The Confederation consisted of 22 states under Prussian leadership. It also set up a north German Reichstag (a parliament) with the vote for all adult males. It also effectively excluded Austria from German affairs. -
The Austro-Prussian War
This war arouse because of disputes between Austria and Prussia over the administration of Schleswig and Holstein. The war was planned by Bismarck as a means to end Austria's influence in the German states. After the defeat of Austria at the Battle of Sadowa (Koniggratz) Prussia replaces Austria as the leading power among the German states. Austria was effectively excluded from German affairs. This war was also known as "the seven weeks war". -
The Franco-Prussian War
Fearing attack accross Alsace and through the Black Forest region the (predominantly Catholic) south German states willingly joined with the (predominantly Protestant) Prussians in a war against the French. The Prussians won the war after the Battle of Sedan and the sieges of Metz and Paris. The war ended in May 10, 1871. -
The Kulturkampf (the cultural struggle)
Bismarck, a Prussian Protestant, feared that German Catholics, particularly in the Rhineland, might prove more loyal to the Pope in Rome than to the Kaiser in Berlin. In 1871 he therefore institued a policy of "cultural struggle" (Kulturkampf) to bring the Catholic church in Germany under state control. By late 1880s most of the repressive lwas had been withdrawn, however, Bismarck still claimed it to have been broadly succesful. -
Proclamation of the German Empire
The proclamation of the new German Empire (Reich) was made in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles, the great palace of the French kings, on 18 January 1871. At this time the city of Paris was still under siege. Bismarck's succesful wars established the leadership of Prussia and of the Prussian king amoin the German states. The victory reinforced the role of the military in Prussian society and encouraged militarism. Even the Liberals voted to give his actions legality. -
Kaiser Wilhelm II came to the German throne
Wilhelm II was the last German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia, ruling the German Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. Crowned in 1888, he dismissd the Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck in 1890. -
The Dismissal of Bismarck
Crowned in 1888, Kaiser Wilhelm II opposed Bismarck's careful foreign policy, preferring vigorous and rapid expansion to protect Germany's "place in the sun". Bismarck resigned at Wilhelm II's insistence on 18 March 1890, at age 75, to be succeeded as Chancellor of Germany and Minister-President of Prussia by Leo von Caprivi.
