Nationalism - Germany

Aim: How Did Bismarck Unify Germany?

Lesson Overview:

Item	Approx Time
Do Now	3-5 Min
Mini Lesson	15-20 Min
Activity	15 Min
Discussion	5-7 Min

German Unification

The Unification of Germany

Germany, during the Metternich Age, was also fragmented. For many of the same reasons, there was a nationalistic movement calling for the unification of Germany. Many felt that to be considered a legitimate nation with political power on the international scene, Germany would have to have autonomous sovereignty. Of all the German states, Prussia was the most powerful, dominating the other, smaller states. Prussia was ruled by Kaiser Wilhelm, however, the person with the most power was Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck.

It was Bismarck who strengthened German unity and power by calling on the nationalistic tendencies of the German people. Bismarck was able to unite Germany through his policy of Realpolitik, or realistic politics, which is a Machiavellian "end justifies the means" approach to strengthening and uniting Germany. Bismarck was a strong proponent of "Blood and Iron". Blood represented the sacrifices the German people would have to make in achieving the goal of unification. A culture of militarism, or the glorification of the military, was created by the crafty Bismarck. This played out in a series of wars against the Austrians and the French. Iron represented the need to industrialize. Bismarck saw that in order to be a world power, Germany would have to catch up with much of the rest of Europe in the areas of technology and factory production. In 1871, Bismarck succeeded in placing Wilhelm on the throne of a unified Germany. German power achieved through nationalism would foster a period of imperialization and would set the stage for the outbreak of World War I.

Classwork & Homework

Lesson PowerPoint: Unification of Germany

Lesson Activity: German Unification

Homework: Nationalism Today