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What Factors led to the unification of Germany in 1871?
over Austria who was in many ways still a backward country for example the economy was still based on agriculture and the government was very backwards but so was Prussia in that sense but it had a cover-up with Reichstag giving the man a vote for some sort of powers but basically meaningless.
Bismarck without a doubt was a huge factor in the unification of Germany being from an Aristocratic Junker Family he was brought up a conservative and became German prime minister in 1862. He despised liberals and democracy. The time he became prime minister the plan of unification could not pass thanks to the conjunction set up by Austria in the German confederation. Also in his time as prime minister he could only see the unification through war like he said the “blood and iron” speech. Unification came about after 3 wars that Prussia fought that he new he could win. The first was against Demark who controlled Schleswig and Holstein he released theses states from there control. Also he had a piece treaty between Austria but is quoted on saying ‘when the army has been brought to a state to such as to command respect then I shall take the opportunity to declare war with Austria burst the German confederation bring the middle and smaller states and give Germany a national union under Prussia’ this back up the argument that he planed unification all along for the whole of Germany and that he was going to attack Austria that he did and kicked them out the confederation. That last wars was with France thought to be the strongest nation in Europe a real gamble for him he took full advantage of the situation in Europe at the time forcing France to declare war on Prussia making the southern states who were more inclined to favour Austria and France over Prussia. He successful defeated France with them out of the picture the German states had no choice but to come under the rule of Prussia.
Another factor that is closely related to Bismarck’s success in the unification of Germany was the situation of Europe at the time that’s brings up the question did he plan unification or was the situation just right for it to unfold. The situation in Europe had been unstable from the end of Napoleon I. a big factor was the Crimea war mid 1850’s between the allied nations of England, France and turkey the Crimean coalition against the threat of Russia taking Constantinople the so called gateway to the east this was a threat to British empire. With the defeat of the Russians this led to social problems back in Russia and there loss of faith in army Bismarck saw in the polish revolution a chance to ally Prussia with Russia who would help with Austria. Also led to great losers of the British army who also lost interest in Europe and focused [next page]