Introduction Hamerow begins his introduction with a defense of the theory that history is determined by the great people of society or The Great Man Theory of history. He goes on to say that "They are the makers of the world in which we live. Otto Von Bismarck belongs in this Company." The controversies surrounding his life still go on between historians today. He is portrayed as a destroyer of liberty and also as a compromiser of liberalism. Some see Bismarck as trying to preserve the old
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By 1871‚ Europe was remapped with the rise of two newly united nations - the Kingdom of Italy and the German Empire. The unification movements of both countries took place at roughly the same time in the mid-19th century and were motivated by the same historical trends - liberalism and nationalism. Before the French Revolution and Napoleon Bonaparte‚ both Italy and Germany shared some similar features. Italy was divided into a number of separate states which were ruled by despotic kings. Yet the
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industrialisation enabled the creation of a powerful Prussia. It was under this powerful Prussia‚ with some skilful diplomacy and opportunism‚ that Germany was successfully united in the wars of German Unification. Without such economic development and prosperity‚ it is questionable whether Germany would have been united by 1871. On the other hand we must also consider the other factors and thus must address five key areas. The first of these is the growing strength of Prussia in relation to Austria and closely linked
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for Sardinia. He realized that Austria was stopping them so he combined French Sardinian army and he takes control of Italy Unification of Italy Giuseppe Garibalde: His army captured Sicily and he united the southern areas he conquered with the kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia. Giuseppe Mazzini: He organized the revolutionary society called Young Italy‚ founded newspapers‚ wrote pamphlets and encouraged unification of Italy. He aroused devotion and the spirit of nationalism in the hearts of many
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Within the context of 1789-1890‚ was the unification of Germany a result of economic‚ political or military forces? Numerous factors have lead to the progressive creation of a unified Germany by 1871; such factors are fundamentally related to economic‚ political or military origins. To accurately understand the reasoning behind the unification‚ one must look at the history preceding it – The after-effects of the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire; The significance of the French revolutions and
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The largest two states were Prussia and Austria; all of the states were ruled by kings or princes who guarded their power jealously. However since 1815 all the German states had been linked through the German Confederation. Otto Eduard Leopold‚ Duke of Lauenburg‚ Prince of Bismarck (1815-1898)‚ or simply known as Otto von Bismarck was a Junker (Prussian nobleman) who held many positions in the Prussian and later the German parliament. Bismarck’s loyalty to Prussia meant that at first not pursuing
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others. At the beginning of his reign‚ he started without a strong and secure army. He started organizing a military force at the beginning of the end of the Thirty Years War. This was how he originally brought the Duchy of Cleves‚ the Duchy of Prussia‚ and Brandenburg together. The army slowly made its way to eight-thousand as the starting number when it really started becoming a force to be recognized. By the time of his death‚ Frederick William the Great Elector’s small army of eight-thousand
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Under the guidance of Bismarck‚ the Prussian chancellor‚ the unification of a Kleindeutsch (small Germany) took place in 1871 after Prussia defeated France. There is often historical debate over who was responsible for the unification of Germany. Controversy is caused amongst those who believe that Bismarck was fully responsible for German unification and those who believe other factors played an equally or even more important part. The historian Pflanze is an example of someone who considers Bismarck
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aimed to increase the power of Prussia by whatever means necessary. as a result of Bismarcks leadership‚ Prussia was declared victorious in the FRanco-Prussia war against France in 1870‚ which altimately led to the eventual unification of Germany in 1871. This outcome made many people generaly accept that bismarck alone was responsible cor ghe unification of Germany under Prussian domination. however since that time other factors have been considered‚ such as Prussias economic strength and its military
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Consistency of Bismarck’s Aims Consistent Aims 1) Patriotism to Prussia Otto van Bismarck is credited with the unification of Germany. However‚ it can be argued that he deliberately fostered this myth‚ and that it was never his aim to begin with: he had not intended unification and was a Prussian patriot first. He distrusted Southern Catholic German states and feared the submergence of Prussia in a united Germany. Above all else‚ Bismarck was consistently concerned to uphold and extend the
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