A common question about German Unification is why did it take so long to accomplish? The other three major players, France, Great Britain, and Russia, had all developed under a single unified nation for hundreds of years by the time Germany came around. In short, the Holy Roman Empire served as a wall to the unification of a German state, considering the Holy Roman Empire was led by Austrian Habsburgs. Also, while the Holy Roman Empire was mostly German, it also included Czechs, Wends, Italians, and Poles (Barraclough). What about when the Holy Roman Empire was dissolved? The German states would surely come together under one flag, right? Well, no, no one was interested in a united Germany in Europe, especially France. However, the German Confederation was formed as a replacement for the Holy Roman Empire. …show more content…
German nationalism became a powerful force among German liberals, but the princes were very conservative. A true opportunity for a united Germany would not come up until the revolutions of 1848, which is a tremendously complex topic. However, nothing had been solved in 1848, and the nationalistic desire for the unification of Germany and the liberal goal of more representative government remained (Biesinger, Joseph A.). German unification would not happen until 1871, when Otto Von Bismarck’s statecraft and cascade of Prussian victories allows them to. Joseph A. Biesinger’s article Otto von Bismarck and German Unification looks at the events leading up to the unification of Germany and how Bismarck was able to achieve this