A unsuported union

This is a map for the time period of 1815-1830 of Germany.  As one can see, it is changing from the smaller regions it once was to mainly Prussia and Austria. From: http://michaeljohnbenze.net/images/ger1815.gif

German was growing; it was developing from a culture and a language into a full forced identity of a nation (117).  However, this did not start with a simple unification of the small Germanic regions.  It took wars and threats and fear to push for a unification of the Germanic regions.  It started with the fall of the Holy Roman Empire and the growth of Prussia and Austria.  These two large regions of German people began to grow, but they were not established on their own before their areas were threatened by Napoleon’s French revolution since there was fighting on the soil of Germanic lands (102, 118).  The French brought great defeat to many of the German lands that those states became allies with France and adapted their government style to fit their traditions (103).  This was a change for all German nations except the larger ones, Prussia and Austria.  This change brought about a need for unity of German regions, but Napoleon’s war was only a contributing factor to the need for unity, it was only the beginning of their need for a true German Nation. 

Napoleon who crowned himself King of France.  His wars lead to the start of German need for unity as a nation. From: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZANAGGb0-cWjDOxD3SJgouSKs5w3-zR_WqwDVXKB8UWFR_5Qo7f7B9AdDOLFaoOFFYkPfk5okyhJaMwO-nO2eqpGThHw_ENe_UnNpxDePK0f0IzyKYdrK0CRTbUclFcI6h8CoCveaoJqp/s1600/napoleon.jpg

The nation would not spring up overnight even with the push from Napoleon's war.  Its need and desire was strengthened during the Rhine when it seemed that France once again wanted to expand its boarders into German lands (p118).  France's conflicts with German lands only awakened the need for unity more and more, which lead to an increase in unity between the German lands and the people.  They began ro find common ground and grow with a new understanding.

This is a map of the Rhine River. From:   http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/willow/the-rhine0.gif

However, even with the great threat of France, unity was not an easy task for the Germans to accomplish.  In 1848-1849, there was a seemingly failed Revolution; it brought a greater sense of political unity, helping lay the foundation for a future German nation (p129).  This also brought great strength to the economics of Germany. Leaving room for the expansion of companies and the groundwork of industrialism which helped Germany escape from the Pauperism which had effected the German nations  during the 1830, which was large groups of urban poor who could not find work due to a changing economy (p116).  However, even with all of the seemingly blessings of this new era and the true development of a German nation, the feeling of the people is described as uprootedness (p134).

This may not seem like a big issue, but I find it to be the most intriguing since, they are becoming stronger, but then again, they are becoming resentful. The unity may have been supported because of security form France and other surrounding nations, but not out of the desire of the people’s hearts. Hence it left the German people with the feeling that their lives, though comfortable stability wise, was being taken from them by the change in the times (p134-135).  The more traditionally oriented society was forced to become modernized and though there were those who followed, it was not a consensus.   Therefore, this needed to be addressed which lead to an “Independent German workers, movement” which would influence the political minds of the time (p135).

Though the nation was not yet a whole piece, it was now Prussia (Small Germany) and Austria (Great Germany).  Prussia was stronger, since it had a greater final control (p129).  These kingdoms may have had similar people, but Austria was greatly under Prussia’s will.  Hence, though these two German nations may have been of similar people they were not at the same point to be the same nation.  Truly it seemed much of the German society was not ready for a unified nationality because the fall of the Holy Roman Empire was only about half a century prior, there was a vast amount of change which can leave people feeling insecure, even if the change is good. 

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