Background: 1815 to 1852

Europe in 1815

Meeting of statesmen in Vienna following end of Napoleonic Wars

Task was to re-draw the map of Europe To punish the losers & reward the victors Main issue was the future of France Emphasis was to be on the Concert of Europe

– collective responsibility

Dominant powers at Vienna were :

Austria

Great Britain

And not forgetting - FRANCE!

Buffer states created to contain France

Kingdom of Netherlands

Prussia

Piedmont

Metternich’s influence seen in 2 key areas

Note dominance of Austria

in this area – ‘a geographical

Expression’

The German Bund-Kept weak & divided

Metternich & Europe

Austrian Empire ‘Europe in miniature’

14 separate minorities under Hapsburg rule

Major fear of Nationalism and Liberalism

Metternich known as the ‘Policeman of Europe’ or the ‘Coachman of Europe’

Bund dominated by 2 powers

Prussia inthe north

Austria inthe south

“Dualism”

Bund dominated by 2 Great Powers This not accidental – Austrian dominance of

central Europe supported by Britain Austria had long tradition of influence in

German affairs Prussia was to co-operate with Austria till the

1850s

Obstacles to unification ?

Obstacles to Unification

Bund had 39 member states – separate govts, rulers, customs etc

Religious divide – Protestant North & Catholic South

Bund contained non-Germans & some Germans were excluded

Diet met in Vienna Changes to constitution required ¾ agreement

The work of Metternich

Opposed to concepts of Liberty & Equality

Supported establishment of the Bund

Carlsbad Decrees (1819) – German rulers to work against revolutionary activity

Final Act of Vienna (1820)

The Zollverein

Note the exclusion ofAustria!

Note the exclusion ofAustria!

“The Vor März”

Name given to the period 1830s to 1848 Period of political stagnation Number of writers urging unification Common feeling was dislike of the French BUT there were too many states and too many

vested interests

German Nationalism in the 1830s

Little impact following events in France Evidence of activities amongst students Metternich’s reaction - 6 Articles (1832) Tight control of universities continued Radical writers banned as subversives

Hope in the 1840s?

Zollverein growing in importance However growth of industry was slow Demands of Prussian middle classes Accession of Frederick William IV – character Allowed united Prussian Diet in 1847 Opposition to any kind of constitution very

clear!

1848-9 The Revolutions

Call for National Parliament – meeting at Frankfurt

Overwhelmingly m/class Constitution drafted Problem over sovereignty Major debate over inclusion or exclusion of

Austrian Empire

1848-9 Failure

Authorities slowly regained control Splits evident amongst delegates Austrians rejected invitation Frederick William rejected crown Frankfurt Parliament dissolved End of German liberal hopes

Prussia vs. Austria – The Erfurt League

1849 Frederick William still had ambitions to unite Germany under Prussia

Formation of the Erfurt League This was clear challenge to Austrian authority

though Austria still in weakened state Clash over Hesse-Cassel led to Prussia

backing down League dissolved at Olmutz Nov 1850