Summary History: Bismarck's intentions for Prussia and German
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A fully summarised section of the German revolution that focuses on Prussia and Germany from 1862 to 1866.
The summary focuses on key dates and points.
What were Bismarck’s intentions for Prussia and Germany from 1862
to 1866
v Reasons for Bismarck’s appointment as Minister-President; his
attitudes towards liberalism and nationalism
§ Wilhelm I became regent of Prussia in 1858, when his brother,
Friedrich Wilhelm IV, fell ill.
§ He ascended the throne in his own right in 1861.
§ Wilhelm - not liberal, but accepted the constitution.
§ He was primarily a military man whose main concern was to
strengthen the army.
§ His fears for Prussian security were aroused by a crisis in 1859,
when the Franco-Austrian War broke out.
§ In this conflict, which formed part of the process of Italian
unification
§ France supported the Kingdom of Piedmont in driving Austrian
forces out of northern Italy.
§ The Prussian army was partly mobilised in order to deter
possible French moves in the Rhineland.
§ Revealed weaknesses
§ Wilhelm wanted to reform the army to increase efficiency –
meant increasing budget
§ Wilhelm viewed the Landwehr as both militarily ineffective and
unreliable in its loyalty to the state.
§ He wanted to reduce its importance by merging it with the
army.
§ Plans alarmed liberals – majority in Landtag – feared stronger
army would be used to suppress them
§ They were also concerned at the proposed downgrading of the
Landwehr, which was dominated by middle-class men like
themselves.
§ the regular army was largely officered by conservative
members of the aristocratic Junker class.
§ The liberals - German Progressive Party, therefore agreed in
1861 to vote funds for only one year.
, § King faced a crisis when liberals increased their parliamentary
seats
§ In September 1862, the Progressives clashed once again with
the king over the budget.
§ Wilhelm faced a dilemma: he believed that funds were needed
urgently for the army, but the constitution required that taxes
be agreed by the Landtag.
§ He even considered abdication, rather than give up any of his
royal powers.
§ This was where Otto von Bismarck, influential in Prussian and
German history, became involved in events.
§ Otto von Bismarck 1815-1898
v Otto von Bismarck in power
§ Bismarck – politician, former diplomat, came from Junker
landowning family
§ Made his name as a conservative of the Prussian United Diet –
defended monarchy against liberals in 1848
§ He liked a government with monarchy with few constitutional
restrictions
§ Served as a diplomat representing Prussia in the Diet of the
Confederation 1851
§ In 1859, he was appointed Prussian ambassador to Russia.
§ In the summer of 1862, just as the conflict between the king
and the liberals was reaching its climax, he was transferred to
Paris.
§ Bismarck was recalled to Berlin to serve as Minister-President.
§ The invitation was extended on the initiative of Albrecht von
Roon, the minister of war
§ He was regarded in government circles as extreme and even
reckless, and Wilhelm had serious reservations about asking for
his assistance.
§ 1862, however, it was hoped that Bismarck could find a way of
financing the army reforms while averting the loss of any royal
powers.
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