German Empire Essays

The German Empire (German: Deutsches Kaiserreich), variously referred to as the German Reich or Realm,[5][6][7][8] or Imperial Germany,[9] was the historical German nation state[10] that existed from the unification of Germany in 1871 to the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II in November 1918, when Germany became a federal republic. The German Empire consisted of 27 constituent territories, with most of them being ruled by royal families. This included 4 kingdoms, 6 grand duchies, 6 duchies (5 after

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,

group known as the German confederation. However, the King of Prussia, Wilhelm I, wanted to unify all the German states in attempt for power and prosperity. At the time, Prussia enjoyed the advantages of having a mainly German population, and having the Prussian army act as one of the most powerful armies in central Europe. Wilhelm I went on to promote a conservative junker, Otto von Bismarck, as his prime minister as proceeded to group all states of Germany into one powerful empire. Although Germany

of Germany’s states transmogrified the European landscape and played a crucial role in the ultimate defeat of France. Germany had become a dichotomized confederation, influenced by the prodigious Austrian and Prussian Empires. The states of Germany saw the Austrian and Prussian Empires as the only forces that could unify the confederation completely, and thus, a struggle of power began. In his 1856 letter to Minister von Manteuffel, Bismarck made a bold and poignant prediction regarding the future

The book, “Upheaval and Continuity A century of German History,” walks us through the events taken place between 1817 and 1971 in Germany. It takes us from the unification of Germany to their stand as a nation during their postwar period. The book opens up with the chapter titled, “The second German Empire,” focused on the very beginning of the country we know today as Germany. Before Germany became “Germany,” it was known as “The Holy Roman Empire,” a group of about 300 city states that functioned

in the eyes of her rivals both inside and outside. On the one hand, monarchist, which hold the majority in parliament expects the humiliation of the Republic and republicans in order to proclaim a new system and the third empire, on the other hand, Unification of the German Empire created a vital threat not just the French influence in Europe also French sovereignty itself. In addition to that, the Republic had challenges in the system itself between making reforms to implement a fully democratic order

nationalism that sprang from these struggles. Also, Otto von Bismarck’s policy of setting the German people against other ethnic groups, such as the Danish or French, to unite the Germans, became a success as a result of the victory over these other groups. In 1862, Wilhelm I appointed Otto Von Bismarck chief minister of Prussia. Bismarck immediately began to build up the army, and he claimed that other ethnic Germans admired Prussia for her power. The year after Bismarck’s appointment, Prussia entered into

Slavism aspired to unite all Slavic people. The major focus was in the Balkans where the South Slavs had been ruled and oppressed for centuries by the three great empires, Austria - Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and Venice ( newworldencyclopedia.org). The Pan-slavism was used as a political tool by the successor the Soviet Union and the Russian Empire. Soon

The French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon caused the collapse of the Holy Roman Empire, the “overarching constitutional structure,” in which Germany had existed for centuries. Napoleonic France fostered the divide between Prussia, Austria, and the “Third Germany” and both Prussia and the Third Germany states were subject to Napoleon’s reforms. These events also resulted in the emergence and growth of German nationalism with an anti-French focus among those who sought to resist French domination

strength the main reason for German unification being achieved by 1871? Would it have been possible through diplomatic means? To think that the unification of Germany would be achieved primarily by their military strength is plausible, however to bring about the cooperation of so many independent states and solidify Wilhelm I position as German Emperor was achieved not merely by military prowess, but multiple coinciding forces. While the growth of nationalism in the German states following both the

the German empire and the Italy Empire scared other countries and their allies. Germany was improving through industrialization and wanted to expand its colonies so that they are a powerful nation as a result. For example: The Franco - Prussian war in 1870 ended up in France being humiliated, thus ruining relationships between France and Germany. For example: Taking over the Alsace-Lorraine, which belonged to the France

greaty deminished Crownlands. During his rule, he faced the monumental task of restoring the German Empire to its former glory and restablishing the power and authority of the Crown once again. Bararossa would come into conflict over his measures and would face several problems during his attempts to unite the Kingdoms of Germany and Italy and create for himself what would become known as the Holy Roman Empire. In his attempts to rule over the two great kingdoms, we can see how he needed to use different

Bismarck and the German Unification How successful was Bismarck in creating a strong and united German nation by 1890? Bismarck, also known as, Otto Van Bismarck, was the Prussian Chancellor of the new German Empire. He installed himself as the leading statesman in European affairs. He was the man who did most to unite the German states. In the early 19th century, Prussia was the only German state that could be up to the standards of the power and influence of the Austrian Empire. Prussia and Austria

What can be the outcome of fear, nationalism, and ambition in the world? Andrea Coca Global 10 Mr. Mckenna May 22, 2015 World War I also known as the Great War was a serious and complicated event in history. The causes of the Great War (WWI) were the alliance systems, colonial conflicts, the crisis in the Balkans, and the ability for mass mobilization. Before the Great War started many countries were already developed and others were starting to develop, we had countries with strong economic

had many challenges socially, economically, and religiously that helped shaped what Germany was prior to the French Revolution. William W. Hagen, the author of German History in Modern Times: Four Lives of the Nation discusses four subsections of the developing Germany. The first subsection, what is known as the “Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation”, is where social, economical, and religious challenges took place for the developing Germany prior to the French Revolution. Within this first subsection

Today the territory of Germania in comparison to today’s Germany is much bigger, but less rich in history. Since the times of the Roman Empire, Germany had been through a number of internal changes. After the Holly Roman Empire, the territory became various independent states until their reunification in 1871, founding the German Empire. After WWI, the German Empire dissolved

contrary, historians have studied the triggering factors of both World War I and World War II, have come to the consensus that the Treaty of Versailles, the unfair treatment of the Germans after World War I to pay repatriation, as well as the loss of the war have left a bitter taste of humiliation and anger in the Germans mouth. Therefore, World War II is a continuance of World War I.

believed in nationalism. Radicals and liberals argued and discussed the problems of government. A brand new idea called nationalism movement was created. Nationalism is the belief that people 's biggest loyalty should not be to a ruler like a king or empire. It should be a nation a people that share similar and common culture and history.when a independence government forms in a nation it is called nation-state. That nation-state has to defend the nations way of life and territory. And one of its biggest

feared the rise of Athens, so did Germany fear the slow strangulation by its European neighbors. British actions amplified German fears. From the time Admiral Nelson’s forces destroyed the Franco-Spanish fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar, Britain flourished as the unquestioned ruler of the seas. Leveraging its naval power it amassed and sustained an unrivaled colonial empire and vast commercial wealth. Britain also benefitted considerably from a fractured Europe. As long as continental sovereigns

von Bismarck was the first chancellor of the German Empire. He was a master strategist who used realpolitik. As an aristocrat, he “adopted the liberal goal of national unity, giving the German Empire a broad political base” (Background essay). Otto von Bismarck could be considered Machiavelli's model of the ideal ruler in that, he was feared by his people and he used any ends to justify the tactics he used in bringing about the unification of the German states. Niccolò Machiavelli was a diplomat for