Reasons for Growth of Nationalism, 1815-1850

1. Reasons for Growth of Nationalism, 1815-1850 • Culture- shared language, history, literature, music eg Goethe, Beethoven • Race • French occupation during the Napoleonic Wars • Napoleonic rule cut number of states from c. 400 to 39 (incl.Austria) • Creation of the Deutscher Bund (German Confederation)

2. Reasons for Growth, cont. • Treaty of Vienna kept Napoleonic formation of states • Zollverein- Prussian led customs union was profitable and included majority of German states • 1848 Revolutions – initial success stimulated popular nationalism beyond intellectuals/middle class. Aimed to achieve a unified German nation, some form of more democratic government and liberal reforms such as freedom of speech and religion. • The Erfurt Union – rulers of 27 states (led by Prussia) developed a sort of limited Kleindeutschland

3. Reasons for Failure of Nationalism 1815-50 • Internal obstacles – religious division - states’ rulers - fear of Prussian domination/militarism - disagreements amongst nationalists (gross or kleindeutschland, monarchy vs. republic, which monarch?)

4. External obstacles - Austria didn’t want to be swallowed up into a Grossdeutschland and would feel threatened by a powerful neighbouring Kleindeutschland • France and Russia would both be likely to oppose the creation of a powerful German superstate on their border

5. Cultural nationalism was too weak, politically divided, lacked leadership and popular cross-class support (eg Wartburg Festival) • Economic nationalism( the Zollverien) was purely economic: it made no political or constitutional changes

6. The 1848 Revolutions • Popular liberal and nationalist uprisings across the German states, incl. Austria and, although initially successful, unplanned and uncoordinated. States’ rulers esp. Frederick William IV panicked and made concessions. Austria faced with several rebellions within her Empire so unable to crush uprisings elsewhere.

7. Reasons for Failure of 1848 Revs/ Frankfurt Parliament • Too much debate/disagreement over issues • No effective/charismatic leadership emerged • States’ rulers not overthrown, so could reassert control when recovered • States’ rulers’ armies remained loyal • Popular support fizzled out

8. Reasons, cont. • The 500 –odd delegates took too long to reach a decision • FWIV turned down the crown of the proposed kleindeutschland • Austria recovered sufficiently to send her army to disperse any remaining delegates to the parliament

9. The Erfurt Union/Humiliation of Olmutz • Union set up by 3 state rulers, but dominated by Prussia • Very limited constitutional links between states • Opposed by Austria and Russia, who threatened war against the Union • Union backed down, forced to sign “The Humiliation of Olmutz “ which broke up the Union and reinstated the Austrian-dominated Deutscher Bund

10. Conclusion • Nationalism ( the sense of a common identity based on factors such as race or culture) grew in the German states between 1815 and 1850 for many reasons, including a shared language and growing economic connections. • Nationalism failed to achieve its goal of a unified German state between 1815 and 1850, for a variety of reasons, including Austrian opposition and the lack of clear goals amongst the nationalist themselves.