Germany

The eventual unification of Germany in 1871under a dominant Prussia was the culmination of many inter-related factors. The complete dominance Prussia had obtained in this arena was no accident. By playing with German Nationalism, Prussian Economic Power, War, the international situation and the failures of the Austrian State Bismark had managed to guide Germany into an overwhelming position of power.

Arguably, this state of complete political control originally stemmed from economic control. In the form of the Zollverein, Prussia had extended trading links with virtually all of Germany by 1834i. Thus, by increasing the economic ties of Germany with Prussia, Prussia had also increased the need for Prussian backing upon those states with whom they traded. "During the [first] eighteen years that the Zollverein [had] existed contacts in trade [had] become some many and the interests ... so interlocked... that the tearing apart of these countries would be accompanied by the most damaging effects upon industry and trade"ii. Also, because the states that traded within the Zollverein were used to the rule of Prussia economically, it also meant that they were also more

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This time the events came in the form of the Hohenzollern Candidature.

However, he now only had half of Germany inside the new Prussian borders. However, by evoking the memories of the crushing Napoleonic victories at Austerlitz and Ulm the strong anti-francophone sentiment was reawakened. However in Prussia the hard-line centralist monarchy offered complete control over the difficult organisation process. Financial crises stemming from that period had meant that it had had to cut military spending in order to restabilise its economy. The post had subsequently been offered to a one Prince Leopold, a member of the same Hohenzollern family as William I. Its logistics helped I mobilisation and supply, and helped to achieve the short, decisive victories it won in the 1864-1871 period. Napoleon III felt himself obliged to go with public opinion and declare that the Prussians would not become any more involved in Spanish affairs. However, after careful manipulation of Napoleon's request through the Ems telegram, Bismark had achieved the war he had sought. He knew that if he was to extend his power over all of Germany, he would have to defeat Austria, and gain the favour of the German states. To the Prussians, this offered an extremely sympathetic ear strategically place on the other French border, and to the French a Prussian puppet again on their southern-most border.

Thus with French hatred whipped up to a frenzy, all that the Prussian's needed to extend their influence was a war. Because the Zollverein was a free market, it favoured the strongest economy.

But these victories in war cannot be solely attributed to the industrialised and efficient Prussian economy. Bismarck's astute manipulation of this feeling was a crucial element in overcoming the south's dislike of Protestant Prussia.

Common topics in this essay:
Italy Bismark, Napoleon III, Prussia Prussia, Prussia Throughout, Zollparlament Zollverein, Saar R¸hr, Italy Russia, Railways Germany, , Prussia Prussia's, international situation, defeat austria, prussian rule, unification prussian rule, public opinion, economic power, power germany, prussian power, unification prussian, prussian economic power, international climate, industrial strength,

Approximate Word count = 1504
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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