history paper 2 – topic 4
PRUSSIA’S ROLE IN GERMANY 1866-7
1. Treaty of Prague 1866
− Prussia had just had a victory against Austria from 7 week’s war
− Terms of the treaty; Austria ceded Venezia to France who then gave it Italy, Austria excluded
from politics & German confederation was abolished so that Prussia could make a new one
which excluded Austria
− Although Prussia wanted to secure their influence, they were conscious about future
tensions so gave lenient terms to Austria
− Impact on Austria - diminished political influence and weakened their influence
2. Annexation of North German states
− Hessen-Kassel, Hannover, Frankfurt & Nassau were all annexed because they have all
been previously defeated by Prussia
− Saxony was not annexed as a strategic move by Bismark because he didn’t want too many
loose monarchs as it could create a vulnerable situation of threat
3. North German Confederation - est 1867
− Agreement between the northern states to co-operate on military action
− Split into 2: Bundesrat = 43 members, 17 from Prussia, Reichstag = 1/3 conservative, 1/3
liberal, 1/3 anti Bismark
4. Relations with southern German states
− Independent states in south; Bavaria, Wurttemberg, Baden & Hesse
− Bismark was cautious with these states because he wanted a strategic relation with them
so allowed them to keep some sovereignty
5. Zollparlament & political alliances
− Zollparlament was created in 1868 to further unify the economy - it was created by
extending Zollverein to the N&S states
− Failed because of the following problems; limited authority, southern resistance from
independent states and culture divide; Prussia - protestant and southern - catholic
- National liberals - radical group which supported German unification under Prussia
leadership and a new constitution government. Bismark strategically allied with them to
secure support
, PRUSSIAN RELATIONS WITH FRANCE 1867-70
1. Napoleon III & Bismark
− Napoleon III = emperor of France, he was an aggressive forward thinker who wanted France
to have power internationally
− He had a shared commonality with Bismark as they both wanted to limit Austria’s power
− Bismark manipulated Napoleon III to keep France neutral but later provoked him into FP
war
2. Luxembourg Crisis
− France was to claim the Rhineland but Bismark rejected and said that they should take
Luxembourg instead
− When France had accepted and developed this plan, Bismark leaked the ideas of the
French, exposing their territorial plans
− Bismark also refered to Luxembourg as German land during speeches and talks which
humiliated the French further as it made them look weak
3. Hohenzollern candidature & Ems telegram
− In 1867 the Queen of Spain was removed off the throne and replaced. The role was given to
Prince hohenzollern who was a ruler of Prussia.
− France majorly opposed this because they felt encircled and threatened now that Spain
and Prussia had dominating figures so they demanded him to step down which he did
voluntarily to avoid conflict
− France demanded to King Wilhelm of Prussia to never use a Hohenzollern candidature
again.
− King W wrote a telegram telling the French ambassador he refused but wanted the matter
to be closed. Bismark edited this telegram before it was sent off to make it seem as though
the King had offended the French ambassador and vice versa.
− This was leaked and caused public outrage with nationalism rising
− France declared war on Prussia in July 1870
4. Events of the war 1870
− Stemmed from the manipulation of the Ems telegram
− Battle of Metz - French troops were trapped in the town
− Battle of Sedan - further 100,000 French troops were captured & Napoleon III. They
attempted to escape and seek the lost troops in Metz but failed
− Prussia won because of their superior military organisation, they had quick mobilisation of
troops and were much more modernised in their tactics and strategies
PRUSSIA’S ROLE IN GERMANY 1866-7
1. Treaty of Prague 1866
− Prussia had just had a victory against Austria from 7 week’s war
− Terms of the treaty; Austria ceded Venezia to France who then gave it Italy, Austria excluded
from politics & German confederation was abolished so that Prussia could make a new one
which excluded Austria
− Although Prussia wanted to secure their influence, they were conscious about future
tensions so gave lenient terms to Austria
− Impact on Austria - diminished political influence and weakened their influence
2. Annexation of North German states
− Hessen-Kassel, Hannover, Frankfurt & Nassau were all annexed because they have all
been previously defeated by Prussia
− Saxony was not annexed as a strategic move by Bismark because he didn’t want too many
loose monarchs as it could create a vulnerable situation of threat
3. North German Confederation - est 1867
− Agreement between the northern states to co-operate on military action
− Split into 2: Bundesrat = 43 members, 17 from Prussia, Reichstag = 1/3 conservative, 1/3
liberal, 1/3 anti Bismark
4. Relations with southern German states
− Independent states in south; Bavaria, Wurttemberg, Baden & Hesse
− Bismark was cautious with these states because he wanted a strategic relation with them
so allowed them to keep some sovereignty
5. Zollparlament & political alliances
− Zollparlament was created in 1868 to further unify the economy - it was created by
extending Zollverein to the N&S states
− Failed because of the following problems; limited authority, southern resistance from
independent states and culture divide; Prussia - protestant and southern - catholic
- National liberals - radical group which supported German unification under Prussia
leadership and a new constitution government. Bismark strategically allied with them to
secure support
, PRUSSIAN RELATIONS WITH FRANCE 1867-70
1. Napoleon III & Bismark
− Napoleon III = emperor of France, he was an aggressive forward thinker who wanted France
to have power internationally
− He had a shared commonality with Bismark as they both wanted to limit Austria’s power
− Bismark manipulated Napoleon III to keep France neutral but later provoked him into FP
war
2. Luxembourg Crisis
− France was to claim the Rhineland but Bismark rejected and said that they should take
Luxembourg instead
− When France had accepted and developed this plan, Bismark leaked the ideas of the
French, exposing their territorial plans
− Bismark also refered to Luxembourg as German land during speeches and talks which
humiliated the French further as it made them look weak
3. Hohenzollern candidature & Ems telegram
− In 1867 the Queen of Spain was removed off the throne and replaced. The role was given to
Prince hohenzollern who was a ruler of Prussia.
− France majorly opposed this because they felt encircled and threatened now that Spain
and Prussia had dominating figures so they demanded him to step down which he did
voluntarily to avoid conflict
− France demanded to King Wilhelm of Prussia to never use a Hohenzollern candidature
again.
− King W wrote a telegram telling the French ambassador he refused but wanted the matter
to be closed. Bismark edited this telegram before it was sent off to make it seem as though
the King had offended the French ambassador and vice versa.
− This was leaked and caused public outrage with nationalism rising
− France declared war on Prussia in July 1870
4. Events of the war 1870
− Stemmed from the manipulation of the Ems telegram
− Battle of Metz - French troops were trapped in the town
− Battle of Sedan - further 100,000 French troops were captured & Napoleon III. They
attempted to escape and seek the lost troops in Metz but failed
− Prussia won because of their superior military organisation, they had quick mobilisation of
troops and were much more modernised in their tactics and strategies
