Otto Von Bismarck Research Paper
John C. Wright
History – 386
Dr. Blum
11/02/2012
Exam #2 This exam is a reflection on the German state, and how it came to be, as well as a look into the actual obstacles that Bismarck had to overcome in order to join the Germanic states in to one, solid German nation. This will be accomplished by focusing on significant people and significant political and economic views that they held to show the differing positions in 1848 – 1849, and by looking at pertinent facts in the 1850s. This will also focus greatly on Otto von Bismarck, who is the man most credited with bringing the thirty-seven Germanic states under one flag, and instilling in the people a sense of nationalism (adding yet another facet to the German people, among radical …show more content…
It showed that with overwhelming militaristic force, and good diplomatic and political leadership, a country could overwhelm and overturn the original alliances and power structures created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna. This caused unrest in the larger powers of Europe. Around this time, Napoleon III was the ruler in France, and “power-broker” in the continental west. In 1868, a revolution in Spain led to the exile of Catholic Queen Isabella II, and there was a void to fill in Spain. Napoleon III denied the first three candidates, so the regency offered the position of the King of Spain to Leopold Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, a relative of the Prussian Hohenzollerns, von Bismarck encouraged Leopold to accept the offer. Napoleon III was upset by this, and sent a messenger to Wilhelm I, King of Prussia with terms for this affront. The messenger wouldn’t wait for Wilhelm to come back from his vacation to the Ems spa, and delivered the telegram to him [Wilhelm] there (this was considered extremely rude, and reflected badly on Napoleon III). Wilhelm sent von Bismarck a telegram of the French terms, and von Bismarck doctored the telegram and sharpened the words in his response to the French to, yet again, instigate another country to declare war on Prussia; thus began the Franco-Prussian
History – 386
Dr. Blum
11/02/2012
Exam #2 This exam is a reflection on the German state, and how it came to be, as well as a look into the actual obstacles that Bismarck had to overcome in order to join the Germanic states in to one, solid German nation. This will be accomplished by focusing on significant people and significant political and economic views that they held to show the differing positions in 1848 – 1849, and by looking at pertinent facts in the 1850s. This will also focus greatly on Otto von Bismarck, who is the man most credited with bringing the thirty-seven Germanic states under one flag, and instilling in the people a sense of nationalism (adding yet another facet to the German people, among radical …show more content…
It showed that with overwhelming militaristic force, and good diplomatic and political leadership, a country could overwhelm and overturn the original alliances and power structures created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna. This caused unrest in the larger powers of Europe. Around this time, Napoleon III was the ruler in France, and “power-broker” in the continental west. In 1868, a revolution in Spain led to the exile of Catholic Queen Isabella II, and there was a void to fill in Spain. Napoleon III denied the first three candidates, so the regency offered the position of the King of Spain to Leopold Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, a relative of the Prussian Hohenzollerns, von Bismarck encouraged Leopold to accept the offer. Napoleon III was upset by this, and sent a messenger to Wilhelm I, King of Prussia with terms for this affront. The messenger wouldn’t wait for Wilhelm to come back from his vacation to the Ems spa, and delivered the telegram to him [Wilhelm] there (this was considered extremely rude, and reflected badly on Napoleon III). Wilhelm sent von Bismarck a telegram of the French terms, and von Bismarck doctored the telegram and sharpened the words in his response to the French to, yet again, instigate another country to declare war on Prussia; thus began the Franco-Prussian