Bismarck and the Unification of the German States
Germany will go on to be the focus of much of what we study from this point on. It will become the greatest power in Europe, then have that power stripped away, then regain it again. It will be at the centre of the two biggest world wars and it will be blamed, rightly or wrongly, for starting both and thus causing the deaths of millions and millions of people.
However, before Bismarck came along, Germany was a collection of states rather than a unified country and it certainly didn't appear to be the economic and military powerhouse that it would become.
So what is it that Bismarck did? How and why did he unite Germany? And what legacy did Bismarck leave that would define Germany for years to come?
However, before Bismarck came along, Germany was a collection of states rather than a unified country and it certainly didn't appear to be the economic and military powerhouse that it would become.
So what is it that Bismarck did? How and why did he unite Germany? And what legacy did Bismarck leave that would define Germany for years to come?
A map of Germany before Bismarck United it
Source Book for Bismarck | |
File Size: | 2521 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Task 1
Liberalism would be a force sweeping through Europe during the 1800's and would have an impact on every nation to varying degrees. Find a definition of Liberalism and write it out in your own words.
Question for consideration/discussion: To what extent has our modern day society here in Australia benefited from the push for Liberal ideals in society?
Question for consideration/discussion: To what extent has our modern day society here in Australia benefited from the push for Liberal ideals in society?
Task 2
Nationalism would be the second force developing in Europe that would significantly impact Germany. Find a definition of Nationalism and write it out in your own words.
Task 3
As you read through the document (below) titled 'The German States 1800-1850', answer the following questions:
- Which major wars had just messed up Europe and required a congress to establish new territory settlements?
- Who was leading this congress and where did he come from?
- What was the two-fold task of the congress?
- According to this sheet, what did Liberal seek?
- How were most of the states of Europe ruled and that time and what did they think about the idea of Liberalism?
- How does this sheet describe Nationalism?
- What was Austria (A state of Germany at this point) hoping to achieve with the German states?
- "Austrian policy both at home and abroad was reactionary"... what does reactionary mean?
- Make a 5-6 line summary of the information under Prussia. They will become the focus of our story.
- Who were the Burschenschaften and what were they hoping to achieve? Which event gave Metternich the excuse to crush them?
- Why was the development of the Zollverein so important to the rise of Prussia as the most significant German State?
- What happened in Europe and specifically in Prussia during 1848?
- Why did the Liberal revolution of 1948 ultimately fail to make any difference in Germany?
- How was Prussia being ruled after 1948?
The German State 1800 - 1850 | |
File Size: | 1932 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Task 4
Read page 19 of your textbooks (Dennett) and explain what is meant by revolution from above (as opposed to revolution from below).
Read through the timeline on page 20 and do the timeline exercise of page 21.
Read through the timeline on page 20 and do the timeline exercise of page 21.
Task 5
Read the section on Liberalism, Nationalism and Socialism in your textbook pp. 21-22 and answer the review questions on p. 22.
Task 6
Read the handout, Why Bismarck came to power and the motivation for Schleswig (Below).
- Class discuss the significance of having an army and what a difference a strong army can make to a country.
- Class discussion about the positives and negatives of a large army.
- Class discussion about the potential legacy you might leave if you just get what you want by force.
- Students then summarise the constitutional conflict and the circumstances that brought Bismarck into power.
Why Bismark came to power and motivation for Schleswig | |
File Size: | 391 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Task 7
Read through p. 23 of your textbook.
- Rewrite Mary Fulbrook’s quote about Unification in your own words to show your understanding of it.
- Read the rest of page 23 on Bismarck and answer the review questions at the end.
Task 8
Read through the document study on pp. 24-25 of the textbook.
- Class discussion on the nature of History and how there are many questions for which we will never have answers but only theories.
Task 9
Read through the handout, Schleswig Holstein (Below) and summarise the information. Make particular note of how Bismarck contrived the war and the impact that that had.
Schleswig Holstein | |
File Size: | 179 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Task 10
Read the white sections of pages 24-25.
Task 11
Read the document below on the Tensions between Prussia and Austria.
Make summary notes highlighting the maneuvering of Bismarck to firstly ensure that Prussia was diplomatically safe from attack from other nations and secondly to ensure that Austria did not become a bitter enemy on Germany’s southern border.
Make summary notes highlighting the maneuvering of Bismarck to firstly ensure that Prussia was diplomatically safe from attack from other nations and secondly to ensure that Austria did not become a bitter enemy on Germany’s southern border.
Tension Between Prussia and Austria | |
File Size: | 4301 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Task 12
Read the information on the first half of p. 26 of your textbooks and answer the 3 review questions below.
Task 13
Read the information below on Bismarcks attitude to victory over Austria and answer the questions at the end.
Source on Bismarcks Attitude to Victory Over Austria | |
File Size: | 355 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Task 14
Read through the first half of page 26 of your textbook and answer the 3 review questions below.
Task 15
Okay - time to see Bismarck and the Prussians smash the French. Read the document below on the war between Prussia and France. Answer the following questions:
- Why were the French starting to be alarmed about what the Prussian's were doing?
- What did the French attempt to do to ensure that Bismarck and the Prussians were not able to unify the Southern states of Germany?
- Make a summary of the events surrounding the candidate for the Spanish Throne.
- How did Bismarck get the French to declare war on Prussia, rather than having Prussia declare war on them?
- Why was this significant?
- How well did the French go in this battle against Prussia?
- How did Bismarck use these events to bring about the Unification of the German States?
Prussia's war on France | |
File Size: | 3398 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Task 16
Read through page 27 and 28 of your textbook on the consequences of German Unification.
- What is this textbook writers opinion of both the Prussian and the French armies?
- Why did he see that the Prussian army was ultimately so much better?
- What two things mentioned here were given to the now united Germany from France?
- Explain the legacy that was left in Germany by the things that Bixmarck did?
Task 17
Read the document below on what Bismarck did after unification and do the activity at the end.
Bismarck's work after Unification | |
File Size: | 474 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Overview
Overview of Bismarck Topic | |
File Size: | 26 kb |
File Type: | doc |