Briefly trace the process of German unification. Explain the nation building process of Germany after 1848.
Answers
Answer:
The Frankfurt Parliament, which was convented in 1848, was the first major step taken towards the unification of German states. But this liberal initiative of nation building was repressed by the combined forces of the Monarchy and big landlords of Prussia. From then Prussia took the Initiative to unify Germany
Answer:
In the 1800s, nationalist feelings were strong in the hearts of the middle-class Germans. They united in 1848 to create a nation-state out of the numerous German States. But the monarchy and the military got together to repress them and they gained support from the landowners of Prussia (the Junkers) too. Prussia soon became the leader of German unification movement. Its Chief Minister Otto von Bismarck was the architect of the process with support from Prussian army and Prussian bureaucracy. The unification process was completed after Prussia won wars with Austria, Denmark and France over seven years time. The new state placed a strong emphasis on modernising currency banking, legal and judicial systems in Germany. In January 1871, the Prussian king, William I, was proclaimed the German Emperor in a ceremony held at Versailles.