Chapter 23- Nationalism Triumphs in Europe.ppt

Chapter 23- Nationalism Triumphs in Europe By James Kazlausky Section 1-Building a German Nation After the invasions made by Napolean, territorial changes developed in German speaking lands. Many people welcomed the French ruler, others were sparked with German nationalism and demanded a unified German state. Metternich for example, felt Germany should have dismantled the German states in order to unify them. Instead the German Confederation was created, a weak body headed by Austria. The position as king was offered to the Prussian King Frederick IV of Prussia; he declined. Otto Von Bismarck, the Prussian prime minister, helped in the unification of Germany. He believed in the way of “the ends justified the means.” Unfortunately, Bismarck was not a German nationalist. He was a Prussian nationalist. He had the purpose to strengthen the Prussian army and pursue an aggressive foreign policy. Bismarck ventured Prussia into 3 main wars: Schleswig and Holstein- Austria and Prussia took over these provinces and divided them. War with Austria- Prussia won and took all lands won in the Schleswig and Holstein war. They also got rid of the German Confederation led by Austria and added the new North German Confederation led by Prussia. Franco-Prussian War- Napoleon declared war on Prussia after seeing it take over Austria and after the Spanish offered Bismarck a spot on the throne. With the help from the Germans, Prussia crushed the French giving Prussia yet another victory. *Bismarck also set up a two house legislature, but the way it was set up, it was far from democratic. Real power was in the hands of the emperor and his chancellor. Section 2- Strengthening Germany William I and his chancellor, Bismarck, are now running Germany and have made it very powerful. German shipping was second only to England among European powers. Germany’s industry was very popular and was very well developed, due to a strong work force and a larger population of 50,000 employees. Germany was