Describe the process of unification of Germany.
Answers
Answer :
✒ Nationalist feelings were widespread among middle class Germans. In 1848, they tried to unify Germany into a nation. This feeling was repressed by the combined forces of the monarchy and the military.
✒ From then on Prussia took on the leadership of unification of Germany. Its chief minister, Otto Von Bismark was the architect of this process. He took the help of military and bureaucracy.
✒ Three wars over seven years ended in Prussian victory and completed the process of unification.
The Prussian King William I was proclaimed German Emperor in January 1871.
In 1848, Germans tried to unite the different regions
of the German confederation into a nation-state-
governed by an elected parliament. But the monarchy
and the military repulssed the initiative. From then,
Germany’s effort was supported by the large land
owners called Junkers of Prussia. Prussia took the
leadership of this movement under its chief minister,
Otto von Bismarck. He took the help of Prussian army and bureaucracy. For 7 years, Prussians fought 3 wars
with Austria, Denmark, and France-which resulted
into Prussia’s victory and it led to be unification of
Germany.
The Prussian king, William I was proclaimed
as the German Emperor on January 18, 1871. The
nation-state building in Germany had demonstrated
the dominance of Prussian state power. The unified
state of Germany had modern currency, banking,
legal and judicial system.