German nationalism

Otto von Bismarck & German Unification

Bell Ringer

• What is nationalism?

Discuss with Partner1 minute

Zollverein

• Von Metternich - Opposed a united Germany

• Prussia stepped forward• Zollverein: economic union

– Eliminated tariff barriers among German states

• Still politically fragmented

Otto von Bismarck• Prussian Junker

– Junker = conservative noble class

• 1862 – became chancellor under King Wilhelm I

• In just under 10 years, Bismarck would unify Germany under Prussian rule

Prussian Power

• Recognized importance of strong military

• Wanted more money spent on military

• Parliament said “no”• Famous “Blood and Iron” speech

Bismarck (cont.)

“Germany does not look to Prussia’s liberalism, but to her power…The great questions of the day are not to be decided by speeches and majority resolutions – that was the mistake of 1848 and 1849 – but by blood and iron!”

Blood and Iron

Discuss with your partner what you think Bismarck meant by Germany’s power will be determined by “blood and iron.”

2 Minutes

Realpolitik

• Strong will• Powerful manipulator• Master of “Realpolitik” – politics of

reality• Politics based on practical matters

rather than theory or ethics• Often resulted in ruthless decisions

REALpolitik at work

• Had wars with Austria & other territories - Prussia easily won

• No harsh terms of peace• Allowed Austria & some other

German states to remain independent

• Why would he do this?? Discuss with partner 1 minute

Practical Motives

• “We had to avoid leaving behind any desire for revenge.” – Otto von Bismarck

1870: Franco-Prussian War

• Growing rivalry between:– France (Napoleon III)– Prussia (Wilhelm I & Bismarck)

• Relative of Wilhelm offered Spanish throne

• France protested• Bismarck rallies Germans (all

Germans)

Ems Dispatch

• Bismarck rewrote & released in the press a telegram

• Wilhelm “insulted” French ambassador

• Napoleon III (France) declared war on Prussia

“On to Berlin!”

• France attacked Prussia

• Prussia – military superiority

• Spanked France • Napoleon III

surrendered (taken captive)

Germany Unifies

• January 18,1871• German Confederation made official • Bismarck + 600 German princes,

nobles, and generals gathered at Versailles

• Wilhelm I of Prussia proclaimed Kaiser of the Second German Empire

France Pays the Cost of Peace

• Peace treaty signed May 1871• France paid $1 billion and had to give

up the provinces of Alsace & Lorraine• All that was left were bitter feelings

and the desire for revenge…

Italian unification

Beginnings of Italian Nationalism

• Italian Peninsula - not unified since fall of Roman Empire

• Despite common language, most of peninsula divided into competing states with own government

Beginnings (cont.)

• Napoleon invaded Italy– United many states under one gov’t– Congress of Vienna - split Italian states

• Spirit of nationalism began to rise

National Groups Ignored

• COV had ignored national groups• Placed them under control of large

empires (sometimes w/ mixed ethnicities)

• Some states were under Austrian control, while others were under French control

Secret Societies

Italian artists, writers, thinkers became interested in celebrating Italy’s cultural traditions

Others formed secret societies to work for political change

Some even plotted to overthrow the Austrian government in Italy

Mazzini & Young Italy

1831, popular writer, Giuseppe Mazzini, launched a nationalist group called Young Italy to fight for unification of the Italian states

Mazzini had been exiled but smuggled patriotic pamphlets into Italy

Young Italy attracted tens of thousands of Italians to the cause of unification

The Path Toward Unity

• As nationalism grew, some Italians led unsuccessful rebellions

• Then, two men rose to lead a successful movement to unify Italy…

Count Cavour• Camilio di Cavour• Fought for Sardinia’s

independence• One of the most

important leaders of Italian unification

• Founded the nationalist newspaper, Il Risorgimento - or “resurgence”

Kingdom of Sardinia

• 1852, Cavour became Prime Minister• Worked toward rebuilding a thriving

economy so that Italy could unify (as a monarchy)

• Cavour aligned Sardinia with France– Sardinia supported France in war with

Russia & gave them the provinces of Savoy & Nice

– In turn, France supported Sardinia in its war against Austria - (successful liberation)

Check for Understanding

• How did Cavour help Sardinia break free from the Austrian Empire?

Garibaldi & the Red Shirts

• Many Italians consider Cavour “brain” of Italian unification, Mazzini “heart”

• Giuseppe Garibaldi has been called “sword” of Italy

• Garibaldi joined Young Italy movement, 1833• Nationalist activities forced Garibaldi to flee Italy

twice• Learned techniques of guerilla warfare while

living in South America• Returned to Italy often to continue fight to free

Italy from Austrian domination

Garibaldi’s Return

• 1854, Garibaldi returned for good

• Cavour asked to lead part of Sardinian army in war against Austria

• After bitter fighting, Austrians agreed to give up Lombardy, retaining Venetia

The Red Shirts• Followers known as Red Shirts because of colorful

uniforms

• By July 1860, using guerilla warfare, Garibaldi, Red Shirts gained control of island of Sicily

• September, Garibaldi, Sardinian troops conquered Naples

• Red Shirts now controlled southern part Italian peninsula

• Garibaldi wanted a republic, but ultimately offered the Kingdom of Two Sicilies to Sardinian king Victor Emmanuel

Unification

• 1861, territories held elections, all agreed to unification

• Holdouts were Venetia, still belonging to Austria; Papal States, under French troops supporting pope

• 1866, Prussia defeated Austria, gave Venetia to Italy

• 1870, Prussia forced French to withdraw from Rome

• Italian troops entered Rome, completed unification under King Victor Emmanuel

Question (write a 4 paragraph

response)• What are the similarities and

differences between Italian and German Unification? In other words, in what ways was the process of unification similar and in what ways were they different?

I. Intro: Thesis II. Body: 1 paragraph with similarities and 1

paragraph with differencesIII. Conclusion: Restate thesis