German Question in 19th century

September 1814-June 1815

• After defeat of Napoleon, princes discussed how to reshape European map

• Discussion about the fate of France —> didnt want France to have a say in negotiations but in the end they did (situation similar toGermany#s after WW1 and 2)

• Main aim: Change Europe politically and territorically —> create a balance of power

• New principles: solidarity, legitimacy, restoration

• Aim of Britain: wants to make a colony out of France —> wants a strong country in central Europe (wants to punish France and Prussia for the damages)

• Aim of Russia: wants peace and a divided Germany and as well punish France

• Aim of Austria: want their power back

• Aim of Prussia: want to expand in the north of Germany and Saxony

9 June 1815:

18 October 1817

• Gathering of German fraternities at the Wartburg (800 people)

• Mostly students, also some professors; held speeches, torchlight processions, burning of “ungerman” books

• —> gave rise to nationalist movement

23 March 1819

• murdered by Carl Sand

• —> with the Words “Verräter des Vaterlandes”

• for Sand, Kotzebue was an obstacle to ongoing nationalist movement, which is why he must have been killed

—> Because of the murder the Carlsbad Decrees happened

31 August 1819

• Trigger: Murder of Kotzebue by Carl Sand

• Censorship, banning of fraternities, etc. —> to contain liberalist and nationalist ideas

• Consequence: all revolutionary, nationalist and liberal ideas were forbidden —> no permission to express your political opinion anymore

• Suppresed and controlled the fraternities

• Under the leadership of Metternich

• Middle and lower class got more and more unsatisfied with their “government”

• National idea was kept alive despite the restrictions

• secures supremacy of Austria

• opponents of democracy and liberalism, supporters of the monarchy

• establishment of a police state à Karlsbaden resolutions

• brought Europe a long-lasting period of peace (pentarchy)

1832

• Liberals demand a free and united Germany

July 1830

• insurrection that brought Louis-Philippe to the throne of France

• he revolution was precipitated by Charles X's publication (July 26) of restrictive ordinances contrary to the spirit of the Charter of 1814

1845

• poor harvest during farm season —> could not be compensated well

• —> had a huge impact on the economy

February 1848

• Cause: Famine, mass poverty, bad social situation of the farmers

  —> against Metternich’s restoration policy and demands (operation in France)

• Course:

• —> March demands: freedom of press, arming the people, establishment of a German parliament

• —> Demonstrations and strett fights (barricade fights)

• —>Overthrow of Metternich and other heads of state

• —>Failure of the revolution due to military intervention

• Consequences:

• —> Introduction of fundamental rights

• —> Conference of the first all-German national assembly in Frankfurt’s Paulskirche

• Paulskirche was overwhelmed with the task of creating a liberal constitutional state in a political system that had to be completely rethought

• different reform ideas

• the lack of a German center makes a structured approach impossible

• Europe grew together to become a communication space - German national consciousness strengthened

• definitive abolition of feudal rule

• 1848: March ministries

• March 1848: King FW vs. national assembly

• 13 March: Metternich resigned

• 18 March 1848: King FW calls back troops

• March 1848: Preliminary parliament

8 May 1848

• constituent national assembly

• freely elected by a preliminary parliament

• also called: Praliament of professor, because many of the representatives were professors

• Criticism:

• —> Lower class wasnt represented

• —> too many people —>they were not really able to discuss and decide

• —> academies didnt all have the same opinion —> too many political directions in question

• Main question: Monarchy or republic

• New state: federal or centralized?

• Liberals gained most support with their model of realizing national unity by setting up a centrsl legislative and a monarchic central power while maintaining the federal elements

• Catalogue of Fundamental Rights: The aristocracy lost their priviliges with exception and without compensation, people were granted equality before the la, freedom of assembly, opinion and speech

1848

• Either Greater German solution: German duchies with Austria-Hungary(—> all German-speaking parts that actually belonged to other countries)

• Smaller German solution: German duchies without Austria-Hungary

• Conflict: Who will rule Germany: Austrian Emperor or prussian King?

—> Smaller German solution was decided because it was easier to realize (no conflicts with other emperors), Prussia should resign it (Austria didnt like to be excluded and were unhappy)

28 March 1849

• —> Prussian King Frederik William IV was offered the crown by the National Assembly —< marks the day, where the revolution failed

• He was supposed to become the “Emperor of the Germans” —> refused “the crown from the gutter”

• Consequence: parliament was dissolved, representatives fled the country —> the forty-eighters

• Reason:

• —> too many different demands, no united goal

• —> too widespread: no control over all actions

• —> they were unexperienced with democracy

• —> Parliament was illorganized and also didnt get the support from the lower-class citizens

May 1849

• the three-class voting system was introduced in Prussia that divided society and kept the power with the wealthier citizens

• hopes of revolution were shattered, but still influenced the ventual developemtn of united Germany

• Political ideas were spread and could not be suppresed (political awareness)

• —> political parties were formed

• roots of other German constitutions

• Basic models and shapes were there, had an influence on Germany’s history