What were Bismarck’s intentions for Prussia and Germany from 1862
to 1866
v Reasons for Bismarck’s appointment as Minister-President; his
attitudes towards liberalism and nationalism
§ Wilhelm I became regent of Prussia in 1858, when his brother,
Friedrich Wilhelm IV, fell ill.
§ He ascended the throne in his own right in 1861.
§ Wilhelm - not liberal, but accepted the constitution.
§ He was primarily a military man whose main concern was to
strengthen the army.
§ His fears for Prussian security were aroused by a crisis in 1859,
when the Franco-Austrian War broke out.
§ In this conflict, which formed part of the process of Italian
unification
§ France supported the Kingdom of Piedmont in driving Austrian
forces out of northern Italy.
§ The Prussian army was partly mobilised in order to deter
possible French moves in the Rhineland.
§ Revealed weaknesses
§ Wilhelm wanted to reform the army to increase efficiency –
meant increasing budget
§ Wilhelm viewed the Landwehr as both militarily ineffective and
unreliable in its loyalty to the state.
§ He wanted to reduce its importance by merging it with the
army.
§ Plans alarmed liberals – majority in Landtag – feared stronger
army would be used to suppress them
§ They were also concerned at the proposed downgrading of the
Landwehr, which was dominated by middle-class men like
themselves.
§ the regular army was largely officered by conservative
members of the aristocratic Junker class.
§ The liberals - German Progressive Party, therefore agreed in
1861 to vote funds for only one year.
, § King faced a crisis when liberals increased their parliamentary
seats
§ In September 1862, the Progressives clashed once again with
the king over the budget.
§ Wilhelm faced a dilemma: he believed that funds were needed
urgently for the army, but the constitution required that taxes
be agreed by the Landtag.
§ He even considered abdication, rather than give up any of his
royal powers.
§ This was where Otto von Bismarck, influential in Prussian and
German history, became involved in events.
§ Otto von Bismarck 1815-1898
v Otto von Bismarck in power
§ Bismarck – politician, former diplomat, came from Junker
landowning family
§ Made his name as a conservative of the Prussian United Diet –
defended monarchy against liberals in 1848
§ He liked a government with monarchy with few constitutional
restrictions
§ Served as a diplomat representing Prussia in the Diet of the
Confederation 1851
§ In 1859, he was appointed Prussian ambassador to Russia.
§ In the summer of 1862, just as the conflict between the king
and the liberals was reaching its climax, he was transferred to
Paris.
§ Bismarck was recalled to Berlin to serve as Minister-President.
§ The invitation was extended on the initiative of Albrecht von
Roon, the minister of war
§ He was regarded in government circles as extreme and even
reckless, and Wilhelm had serious reservations about asking for
his assistance.
§ 1862, however, it was hoped that Bismarck could find a way of
financing the army reforms while averting the loss of any royal
powers.
to 1866
v Reasons for Bismarck’s appointment as Minister-President; his
attitudes towards liberalism and nationalism
§ Wilhelm I became regent of Prussia in 1858, when his brother,
Friedrich Wilhelm IV, fell ill.
§ He ascended the throne in his own right in 1861.
§ Wilhelm - not liberal, but accepted the constitution.
§ He was primarily a military man whose main concern was to
strengthen the army.
§ His fears for Prussian security were aroused by a crisis in 1859,
when the Franco-Austrian War broke out.
§ In this conflict, which formed part of the process of Italian
unification
§ France supported the Kingdom of Piedmont in driving Austrian
forces out of northern Italy.
§ The Prussian army was partly mobilised in order to deter
possible French moves in the Rhineland.
§ Revealed weaknesses
§ Wilhelm wanted to reform the army to increase efficiency –
meant increasing budget
§ Wilhelm viewed the Landwehr as both militarily ineffective and
unreliable in its loyalty to the state.
§ He wanted to reduce its importance by merging it with the
army.
§ Plans alarmed liberals – majority in Landtag – feared stronger
army would be used to suppress them
§ They were also concerned at the proposed downgrading of the
Landwehr, which was dominated by middle-class men like
themselves.
§ the regular army was largely officered by conservative
members of the aristocratic Junker class.
§ The liberals - German Progressive Party, therefore agreed in
1861 to vote funds for only one year.
, § King faced a crisis when liberals increased their parliamentary
seats
§ In September 1862, the Progressives clashed once again with
the king over the budget.
§ Wilhelm faced a dilemma: he believed that funds were needed
urgently for the army, but the constitution required that taxes
be agreed by the Landtag.
§ He even considered abdication, rather than give up any of his
royal powers.
§ This was where Otto von Bismarck, influential in Prussian and
German history, became involved in events.
§ Otto von Bismarck 1815-1898
v Otto von Bismarck in power
§ Bismarck – politician, former diplomat, came from Junker
landowning family
§ Made his name as a conservative of the Prussian United Diet –
defended monarchy against liberals in 1848
§ He liked a government with monarchy with few constitutional
restrictions
§ Served as a diplomat representing Prussia in the Diet of the
Confederation 1851
§ In 1859, he was appointed Prussian ambassador to Russia.
§ In the summer of 1862, just as the conflict between the king
and the liberals was reaching its climax, he was transferred to
Paris.
§ Bismarck was recalled to Berlin to serve as Minister-President.
§ The invitation was extended on the initiative of Albrecht von
Roon, the minister of war
§ He was regarded in government circles as extreme and even
reckless, and Wilhelm had serious reservations about asking for
his assistance.
§ 1862, however, it was hoped that Bismarck could find a way of
financing the army reforms while averting the loss of any royal
powers.
