Summary
Summary History: Unification of Germany by 1871
A fully summarised section of the German revolution that focuses on the unification of Germany by 1871. The summary focuses on key dates and points
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How and why was the unification of Germany Achieved by 1871v Bismarck’s diplomacy towards France
§ Not clear that Bismarck actively wanted war with France as a
long-term goal. But did prepare to accept it if it was necessary
to do.
§ He thought it might even work with Prussia interests.
§ A conflict with an external enemy could be depicted as
threatening for both South and northern Germany, which could
bring a means of unification.
§ Between Prussia and France worsened after the Austro-
Prussian war.
§ Napoleon III was under pressure from the French public to gain
compensation for enduring this powerful neighbour on the
eastern border.
§ We controller by the late 1860s, exposed to a lot of domestic
criticism as he was liberalizing the French political system.
§ Bismarck turned down Napoleon’s attempt to acquire part of
the Rhineland, which belonged to Bavaria and Hesse.
§ Instead, he encouraged him to turn his attention to the Duchy
of Luxembourg, an independent state whose ruler was the king
of the Netherlands.
§ some of the inhabitants were German-speaking, and a Prussian
garrison was stationed there.
§ Bismarck then deliberately whipped up German public opinion
to prevent the deal between France and the Netherlands from
going through.
§ Instead, a conference held in London in May 1867 resulted in
Luxembourg being declared a neutral state. The Prussian
garrison was withdrawn.
§ The south German states – still independent at the time – were
horrified to discover that Napoleon wanted to take control of
Luxembourg, and turned against France.
, v The Hohenzollern candidature and the outbreak of war
The Spanish succession crisis
§ 1868 - Spanish Queen Isabella - forced to abdicate by politicians
who wanted to end the Bourbon Royal family.
§ They selected Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern- Sigmaringen as
their new monarch.
§ Leopold was from a south German state and a Catholic, like the
Spanish, but he was also related to the Prussian royal family.
§ Leopold accepted the offer – a move that was certain to incite
French anger.
§ As king of Prussia, Wilhelm I was head of the Hohenzollern
family.
§ Early July 1870, a document announcing Leopold's acceptance
arrived in Madrid. When Spanish parliament was not in session.
§ Napoleon shouldn't have heard the news until the Spanish had
publicly chosen Leopold.
§ France concluded that there was a Prussian plot to encircle
France.
§ The king seemed Bismarck a telegram describing a meeting
about the matter he had just had with Benedetti, the French
ambassador at Spa town Ems
§ When he got the Ems telegram. Bismarck saw an opportunity
to paint France as an unreasonable party.
§ He changed the wording of the telegram from France to make
it appear as though they were demanding a humiliating pledge
from Perugia to not support any future renewal of Leopold’s
monarchy.
§ Moltke, who was present when Bismarck edited the telegram,
instantly grasped the important difference between the two
versions.
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