CONTEMPORARY HISTORY
Lecture 3
THE BIRTH OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE
Prussia played the role of the leader of Unification, To protect their political stability and overcome other
rivals=Austria.
BEGINNING OF CENTURY
The Congress of Vienna changed the state of continental Europe. After the Congress, Prussia gained
several new territories like Westphalia, Saxony, and the Rhine Province. Part of Prussia and part of the
Austrian Empire were united in the lead called the German Confederation.
German Confederation was composed of Prussia and part of the Austrian Empire
o Association of 39 predominantly speaking sovereign states in Central Europe, Prussia and
Austria were part of Confederation but both were controlled territories outside of the
confederation
o Even though the Confederation was previously under the power of the Austrian Leader,
Prussia was the unofficial leader of the confederation.
These two states were fighting for supremacy in Central Europe, they were the protagonists of
German dualism (question): WHICH IS THE STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY?
o The question was not only of political and military descent, but it reached a deep
intellectual level
o The debate among German intellectuals regarding the role of the leader in Central
Europe and the idea of a Unified Germany
GERMAN DUALISM
I. Großdeutsche Lösung - “Greater Germany Solution”
Germany with Austria
Wanted the unification of all the german speaking states under one ruler →
Austria
This solution was favored by the Austrian Empire and its people
II. Kleindeutsche Lösung - “Little German Solution”
Germany without Austria
Unify only the Northern German states without Austria
According to this position Austrian monarchy couldn't divide itself because of
the many nationalities and ethnic differences inside so they favored the exclusion
of Austria altogether.
This solution was favored by Prussia and its supporters
The contrast between these two solutions was evident after the 1848 revolutions.
1848- Revolts in Austria (bloodily repressed) and Prussia → Many liberal leaders from all the German
states met and created the Frankfurt National Assembly and offered the title of Kaiser to the King of
Prussia, Frederick William the IV
The Prussian king declined the offer because of his deeply conservative state and he couldn’t
receive a crown from political leaders (in his view). He wanted to receive the crown from other
princes and kings of the German states.
Lecture 3
THE BIRTH OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE
Prussia played the role of the leader of Unification, To protect their political stability and overcome other
rivals=Austria.
BEGINNING OF CENTURY
The Congress of Vienna changed the state of continental Europe. After the Congress, Prussia gained
several new territories like Westphalia, Saxony, and the Rhine Province. Part of Prussia and part of the
Austrian Empire were united in the lead called the German Confederation.
German Confederation was composed of Prussia and part of the Austrian Empire
o Association of 39 predominantly speaking sovereign states in Central Europe, Prussia and
Austria were part of Confederation but both were controlled territories outside of the
confederation
o Even though the Confederation was previously under the power of the Austrian Leader,
Prussia was the unofficial leader of the confederation.
These two states were fighting for supremacy in Central Europe, they were the protagonists of
German dualism (question): WHICH IS THE STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY?
o The question was not only of political and military descent, but it reached a deep
intellectual level
o The debate among German intellectuals regarding the role of the leader in Central
Europe and the idea of a Unified Germany
GERMAN DUALISM
I. Großdeutsche Lösung - “Greater Germany Solution”
Germany with Austria
Wanted the unification of all the german speaking states under one ruler →
Austria
This solution was favored by the Austrian Empire and its people
II. Kleindeutsche Lösung - “Little German Solution”
Germany without Austria
Unify only the Northern German states without Austria
According to this position Austrian monarchy couldn't divide itself because of
the many nationalities and ethnic differences inside so they favored the exclusion
of Austria altogether.
This solution was favored by Prussia and its supporters
The contrast between these two solutions was evident after the 1848 revolutions.
1848- Revolts in Austria (bloodily repressed) and Prussia → Many liberal leaders from all the German
states met and created the Frankfurt National Assembly and offered the title of Kaiser to the King of
Prussia, Frederick William the IV
The Prussian king declined the offer because of his deeply conservative state and he couldn’t
receive a crown from political leaders (in his view). He wanted to receive the crown from other
princes and kings of the German states.
