This concise study of Bismarck's role in the unification and consolidation of modern Germany has been fully updated and expanded in the light of recent research.
Bismarck's role in the unification and consolidation of Germany is central to any understanding of Germany's development as a nation and its consequent role as aggressor in two world wars. This classic "Seminar Study," now in the popular new format, offers a complete introduction to the topic which will be indispensible to any A Level or Undergraduate student of modern Europe or the build up to the World WarsThe author is a recognised authority in the field.Contains all the pedagogical features of a "Seminar Study in History" - glossary of terms, who's who, timelines, and documents
3rd edition.
David Williamson's Bismarck and Germany has long been a definitive guide to Bismarck's role in German history. A comprehensive and readable study, the book provides a balanced account of Bismarck as the father of the first 'unified' Germany and examines how he consolidated this new state. Williamson shows how Bismarck skilfully exploited the economic strength of Prussia and the defeats of Austria and France in 1866 and 1870 to create a united Germany by 1871. The state Bismarck created was initially a workable compromise between the demands of the Liberals, the Prussian Crown and the individual states. However, by the 1880s the Bismarckian constitution had become a straitjacket that distorted the constitutional development of Germany up to 1918, despite the fact that it had many modern characteristics such as universal (manhood) suffrage and, by the standards of the time, an exemplary welfare system. In this third edition, revised and updated to include recent studies of Bismarck, an expanded introduction extending back to 1815 allows students to place Bismarck's remarkable achievement of German unification in the context of political and economic developments in the preceding decades. Supported by a comprehensive Documents section, and with a new colour plate section, this new edition of a classic text will be an invaluable resource for students and lecturers alike. David Williamson has written extensively on modern German and International history. Among his publications are Poland Betrayed: The Nazi Soviet Invasions of 1939 (2009), and The Third Reich (fourth edition 2010). Formerly head of History at Highgate School, he is now a writer and freelance lecturer.
David G. Williamson has written extensively on modern German history and international relations. Among his publications are Poland Betrayed: The Nazi Societ Invasions of 1939 (2009) and The Third Reich (4th edition 2010). Formerly head of History at Highgate School, he is now a writer and freelance lecturer
Acknowledgements
Chronology
Who's who
Glossary
Maps
PART ONE: THE SETTING
1 The Background, 1815- 1862
The German Confederation
The Zollverein
The Growth of German Nationalism
The Growth of Liberalism
Conservative Acceptance of Nationalism
Catholicism and Nationalism
The 1848 Revolutions
The Radowitz Initiative and the Revival of the Confederation
Austro-Prussian Relations, 1853-1859
The Constitutional Conflict in Prussia
Bismarck
Bismarck's Appointment as Prussian Minister-President
PART TWO DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS
2 The Constitutional Conflict
Confrontation with the Liberals
The Liberals Divided
3 The German Question, 1860-66
Public Opinion and German Unity: The Nationalverein and Reformverein
Austro-Prussian rivalry and the reform of the Confederation, 1860-62
Bismack and Austria, 1862-3
The Schleswig Holstein Crisis, 1863-4
The Options facing Bismarck
From Schoenbrunn to Bad Gastein
Austria's 'Economic Koeniggratz'
On the Brink of War
The Austro-Prussian War
The Home Front
PART THREE: THE NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION
4. THE CREATION OF THE NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION, 1866 67
The Prussian Indemnity Bill
The Spoils of War
The Constitution of the North German Confederation
5. BISMARCK, NAPOLEON AND THE SOUTHERN STATES
The Luxemburg Crisis
The Southern States and German Integration
6. THE FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR AND THE UNIFICATION OF
GERMANY, 1870 71
The Hohenzollern Candidature
The Outbreak of War
The unification of Kleindeutschland
The Armistice and the Treaty of Frankfurt
PART FOUR: THE ECONOMIC AND CONSTITUTIONAL
CONTEXT, 1871 90
7. THE SECOND REICH: A HYBRID STATE
The Administrative and Legislative Infrastructure
The Problem of Prussia
8. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS, 1871-90
The impact on the Economy of the 'Great Depression'
Structural Changes in the German Economy
The Political Consequences of the 'Great Depression'
PART FIVE: DOMESTIC POLITICS
9. THE KULTURKAMPF AND THE DECLINE OF THE NATIONAL LIBERALS
A Bismarck-Liberal Axis?
The Kulturkampf
Protectionism and the End of the Liberal Era
The Tariff Act of 1879
10. THE CONSERVATIVE EMPIRE
The Second Foundation of the Reich
Bismarck's Loss of Control over the Reichstag
Bismarck and the SPD
Bismarck's Social Welfare Programme
Jews and Poles and the Policy of Germanisation
The Formation of the Kartell and a Brief Period of Stabilization
Bismarck's Fall
PART SIX: GERMAN FOREIGN AND COLONIAL POLICY
11. GERMANY AND EUROPE, 1871 90
The League of the Three Emperors
The Eastern Crisis, 1875 78
The Dual Alliance and Three Emperors' Alliance
The Franco-German Entente
The Bulgarian Crisis and its Consequences
12. THE CREATION OF THE GERMAN COLONIAL EMPIRE
Bismarck's Motives
The Annexations in Africa and the Far East
Bismarck's Disillusion with the Colonies
PART SEVEN: ASSESSMENT
13. BISMARCK IN MYTH AND REALITY
Bismarck in Retirement
His Achievements
Bismarck and the Historians
Conclusion
PART EIGHT: DOCUMENTS
1 Arminius Riemann's speech at the Wartburg Festival in 1817
2 The Historian A.J.P. Taylor on the 1848 Revolutions
3 The Economy and National Unity
4 The Nationalverein Programme, 1859
5 The Prussian Liberals Long for a German Cavour, 1861
6 King William and the Army Bill
7 Bismarck Foresees war with Austria
8 Bismarck and the German Confederation
9 Blood and Iron
10 Bismarck and Commercial Reform, 1865
11 The Internal Impact of Duppel
12 Liberal opposition to the War of 1866
13 Bismarck and Schleswig-Holstein
14 Bismarck Defends the Austria Alliance, February 1865
15 Financing mobilization, July 1865
16 The Gastein Convention, 14 August, 1865
17 Bismarck's Peace Policy, July 1866
18 Russian and British views on Prussia's victory, 1866
19The National Liberals and the North German Confederation
20 Bismarck on War, March 1867
21 Bismarck and German Unity in 1869
22 The Ems Telegram
23 French Partisans, December 1870
24 Military Impatience with Bismarck, December 1870
25 Alsace-Lorraine
26 Bismarck's Power
27 Speculation Mania
28 The Industrialization of Germany
29 The Flight from the Land
30 Grain Prices
31 The Foundation of the Association for Reform of Taxation and Economy
32 Grassroots Support for Protection
33 Condition of the Urban Working Class in Germany, 1893
34 Reichstag Elections, 1871-1890
35 Annual Earnings of workers in Industries, Commerce and Transport, 1871-1913
36 Bismarck Attacks the Catholic Clergy
37 Bismarck's Guiding Principle in Domestic Policy
38 A Liberal Academic Asseses Bismarck
39 Extracts from the Ant-Socialist Law, 1878
40 German Grain Tariffs
41 Rumours of a coup
42 The Conservative Bias of the Prussian Civil Service
43 Disagreement between WilliamII and Bismarck, January 1890
44 Bismarck declares Germany a satiated Power
45 Bismarck Defends the Dual Alliance
46 Separate Protocol to the Three Emperors' Alliance, 18 June 1881
47 Atmosphere at St Petersburg, Autumn, 1886
48 Angra Pequena
49 German Historians as History
50 Hans-Ulrich Wehler's interpretation of Bismarck's Politics after 1871
Guide to Further Reading
References
Index
Bismarck's role in the unification and consolidation of Germany is central to any understanding of Germany's development as a nation and its consequent role as aggressor in two world wars. This study provides students with a concise, up-to-date and analytical account of Bismarck's role in modern German history. Williamson guides readers through the complex events leading to the defeats of Austria and France in 1866 and 1870 and the subsequent creation of a united Germany in January 1871. He then explores the domestic and foreign problems Bismarck faced up to 1890 in consolidating unification.
Fully updated and expanded Contains primary source material including maps, documents and pictures All the pedagogical features of a Seminar Study in History - glossary of terms, who's who, timelines, and documents
Now in the new, popular series format, including a Chronology and a Who's Who for added clarity Expanded "Background" chapter, giving readers a clearer understanding of the social, political and economic situation in Germany in the years 1848 - 1862. Expanded chapter on Bismarck's career prior to 1862 A new section on The Development of German Industry, 1870 - 1890 Updated maps and primary sources in the Documents section
This concise study of Bismarck's role in the unification and consolidation of modern Germany has been fully updated and expanded in the light of recent research.