German Unification

Key Terms
The Second Reich
Otto Von Bismarck
Junker
Blood & Iron
Realpolitik

War with
Denmark

War with Austria

Franco-Prussian
War
Kaiser

King Wilhelm I

Germany in the1700s
German people lived in several small countries
Strongest countries in the Region:
Prussia
Austria

After Napoleon
After Napoleon conquered the land, German people
wanted a single country (Nationalism)
Thought it would be stronger; safer

Napoleon consolidated
400 states 39 states
Napoleonic Code

Who could Unify the German

people?
Otto Von Bismarck (Prussia)
Not a king; came from Junker class
Junker German nobility

1862 - King Wilhelm I made OVB Prime Minister

Believed that philosophy and ideas were overrated
Ideology:
Believed in Blood and Iron
Strong Military, not concerned with philosophy,
enlightenment, or natural rights

Realpolitik realistic politics

Power is more important than ideas and values

OVB wanted a Second Reich

Reich = Realm / Empire
1st Reich Holy Roman Empire
2nd Reich German Empire (created by OVB)
3rd Reich - ??????

Blood & Iron Speech

Before the speech, a meeting was held in Frankfurt
Goal was to vote to unify Germany. They failed
OVB opposed this approach at unification:

The position of Prussia in Germany will not be determined by

its liberalism but by its power ... Prussia must concentrate its
strength and hold it for the favourable moment, which has
already come and gone several times. Since the Congress of
Vienna, our frontiers have been ill-designed for a healthy body
politic. Not through speeches and majority decisions will the
great questions of the day be decided - that was the great mistake
of 1848 and 1849 - but by iron and blood.
Otto Von Bismarck, Blood & Iron Speech, 1862

Realpolitik
Against

For

Ideology

Practicality

Philosophy

Realism

Ethics

Power

Realistic Politics
Often referred to as a Machiavellian approach to
politics
Would do whatever is necessary to reach goals

Otto Von Bismarck:

Unification Through War
Bismarck annexed the Northern German states
Annex take control over a state.

Defeat of Denmark (1865)

Prussia and Austria enter alliance
Defeat Denmark, Prussia claims territory

Defeat of Austria (1866)

Bismarck turned on Austria
Takes land

Franco-Prussian War (1871)

Defeats Napoleon III (NBIII would fall from power)
Take Land from France

Napoleon III surrendering to OVB

OVB affected French History as well

Germany United
Victory over France delighted German
people
Southern German states agreed to join
Bismarck made King Wilhelm I of Prussia
the Kaiser of a united Germany
Wilhelm I First Kaiser of Germany
Kaiser German for Emperor (Caesar)

1871 - German Empire

(Second Reich) is born
How?
Otto Von Bismarck
Prussia

Blood & Iron

Realpolitik

Italian Unification
Key Terms:
Mazzini

The Soul
Cavour

The Brain
Garibaldi

The Sword
Red Shirts
Victor Emmanuel II

Italy in the 1700s

Like Germany, Italian people were divided into
many small countries
Last time there was unity in Italy?
Roman Empire!

Also like Germany, after Napoleon Bonaparte

conquered Italy, people wanted a single state
From 1820-1848, Nationalists revolted several times.

The 3 Men of Italian Unification

Mazzini The Soul
Cavour The Brain
Garibaldi The Sword

Giuseppe Mazzini The Soul

Mazzini - Nationalist leader who inspired
the young people of Italy to call for a
single country.
Nicknamed The Soul.
Why was he given that nickname?

Camillo Cavour The Brain

Cavour
From Sardinia (Region).
Provoked a war with Austria to create
Nationalist feelings among the people.
Waiving the bloody shirt

Nicknamed The Brain

Why was he given that nickname?

Giuseppe Garibaldi The Sword

Garibaldi
Led a group of nationalist soldiers called
the Red Shirts, and invaded parts of
Southern Italy
Foreshadowing
WWII Black Shirts (Fascism)

In an act of patriotism, Garibaldi doesnt

seize power. He made Victor Emmanuel II,
King of Sardinia, the king of a United Italy
Nicknamed The Sword
Why was he given that nickname?

King Victor Emmanuel II

1861
Italy united for the first time
since the 500s.

King Victor Emmanuel

crowned as King of Italy

Discussion Questions
How did Napoleon Bonaparte cause the
unification of Germany and Italy?

Nationalism played a big role in creating both

Germany and Italy. What did Nationalists want?

How would this Nationalist fervor in Italy and

Germany affect the 20th century?