The North German Union. History of Germany

The North German Union was formed more than two hundred and fifty years ago and played a decisive role in the formation of the German nation. The process of the emergence of public education was quite a logical end to the era of feudalism and the formation of bourgeois capitalism. The Union played a significant role in world history, spreading its influence throughout Europe. It was the North German Union that became the predecessor of the German Empire of the nineteenth century - the First Reich.

Creation of the North German Union: premises

At the end of the seventeenth century, the ideas of nation-states spread more and more in Europe. Ethnicity plays an increasing role for the common people and the intelligentsia. At that time, the borders of many countries are subject to the influence of its ruling elite, often without taking into account the national composition. The German people are divided among a number of state-cities. Cultural centers are in Bavaria, Berlin, Frankfurt am Main and many other cities. However, two powers - Austria and Prussia - are fighting for dominance in the so-called Germanic world. During the invasion of Napoleon, more and more people are imbued with the idea of uniting the entire Germanic people in one state. However, the major feudal lords still have a decisive role in social and political life. For them, fragmentation plays an important role. Since in such conditions they have unlimited rights and can calmly and unconsciously rule within their domains.

Dissatisfaction

But such an alignment does not suit the emerging class of the bourgeoisie at all. Owners of private ownership of the means of production are looking for new markets. And a huge number of states and, accordingly, borders complicate this process. In the interests of this class, a customs union was concluded between many German cities, but discontent was growing.

Perfectly seeing all these processes, and also having as an example the experience of neighboring European states, Prussia and Austria are heading for the unification of German lands. However, a powerful Austria has no serious authority, especially in the north of the River Main. And Prussia was too weak to resist such a large player. Here Otto von Bismarck appears in the political arena . Germany owes much to this policy, because it was he who took a new look at the existing problem and found a way out of it.

The bourgeoisie grew stronger and now demanded political unity. Prussia began to prepare for war. Bismarck patiently created the army, given the new technologies and modern methods of warfare. He was well aware that it was impossible to achieve the goals of the foreign policy without military action against Austria. When the army was ready, it remained only to find an excuse.

The War Begins

After the victory in the Danish War, Prussia and Austria divided large territories among themselves. In particular, they occupied Schleswig and Gastein. At the same time the contract was very complicated. Both states had rights to these territories, and both had administrations there. This is what Bismarck used. Germany at this time increasingly felt the spread of the influence of Prussia.

The "Iron Chancellor" (Bismarck's nickname) began to actively claim his rights to the disputed region. The Austrian emperor understood the hopelessness of possession of Gastein, since the region was cut off from the empire. Therefore, he willingly went to the talks. Austria offered to transfer Prussia territories on advantageous terms. However, Bismarck refused. Then the emperor began to seek allies for the forthcoming war. The future North German Union was already outlined at that time. Many states north of Maine began to unite in the anti-Austrian coalition.

Prussia's Excellence

Bismarck also managed to conclude an alliance with Italy. He began to inflame the situation in the disputed regions, provoking the empire to declare war. As a result, the Prussian detachments occupied Gashtein. In mid-June, fighting began. The technical backwardness of the Austrian army did not allow it to organize a successful defense. Many states did not manage to mobilize before their territory was occupied by Prussia. Also a few days after the outbreak of the war, Italy joined it. The war on two fronts, as well as the technical superiority of the enemy, did not give Austria a chance. The war was won in seven weeks. The creation of the North German Union made it possible to appear a new center of the "German world".

After the victory

After the lightning victory, Prussia began to annex more and more territories to itself. Many states that at the time of the beginning of the war declared their neutrality, were occupied. Under the pressure of the bourgeoisie, many cities joined, also in the south of Main. Open borders, lack of duties and loyal to the merchants law allowed the North German Union to become very attractive to owners of private ownership of the means of production. Also, the state actively promoted pan-German ideas of unification and fraternity, which favorably affected the image of the union in the common people.

The final merger

The North German alliance with Prussia was growing stronger day by day. He began to claim all the German lands. Various military alliances were concluded with the so-called southern states (relative to the River Main). But they were not enough for full membership in the union. Therefore Bismarck conceived a new war. The history of Germany is inextricably linked with France in terms of the struggle for domination in the region. Therefore, in a few years, Paris begins to pressure the Emperor Wilhelm. The formal reason for the war was the Spanish crisis, in which France and the North German Union supported different candidates for the throne. Despite Wilhelm's efforts to prevent bloodshed, the war was unleashed. Like Austro-Prussian, it began in the summer. A year later the French army was defeated, and the alliance finally annexed all the German lands. The history of Germany, in what form it exists now, begins precisely from this moment.