Topic
12 Discussion 60 Frankfurt and Berlin:
The Question of a Liberal Germany
1.
The
German States
a.
Frankfurt
Assembly is struggling to create a democratic Germany
b.
The
failure to do so during the mid-19th century contributes to
challenges for Europe
c.
Obstacles
to Unification
i.
Traditions
of independence
ii.
Desire
to maintain sovereignty
iii.
Large
states of Prussia and Austria were threatened by one another
iv.
Small
states maintained their independence through balance of power tactics
d.
German
dualism
i.
Polarity
between Berlin and Vienna
ii.
German
question abated during the threat of Napoleon
iii.
Junkers
enjoyed status and autonomy within Prussia
iv.
Western
regions perceived Prussia and uncouth and eastern
2.
Berlin: Failure of the Revolution in Prussia
a.
Frederick
William the III and IV refused constitutionalism
b.
Existing
government was efficient, progressive, and fair
i.
Strong
education system
ii.
High
literacy rates
iii.
Government
used mercantilist methods of planning the economy
iv.
Established
the tariff union Zollverein
1.
eventually
included almost all Germany
c.
3/1848
riots break out
i.
Frederick
William IV first uses the military (Junkers)
ii.
Then
calls off the military and calls for elections
1.
all-Prussian
legislative assembly
2.
Assembly
is radial in response to anti-Junker lower classes
3.
Largely
influenced by eastern interests
4.
Perceive
Russia as the center of reaction in Europe
5.
Problems
a.
Assembly
grants political autonomy to the Poles of West Prussia
b.
Germans
intermixed with Poles refuse to recognize Poles authority
c.
Military
in the region sides with the Germans
i.
Crushes
the Polish institutions
6.
Power
clearly lies in the military (Junkers) and the revolution is over
3.
The
Frankfurt Assembly
a.
Bypasses
existing sovereignties
b.
Representatives
are sent from all the states
c.
However
the Assembly had to power
i.
No
military
ii.
No
civil administration
d.
Became
dependent on the support of the states it was trying to supercede
e.
5/1848
Assembly met
i.
representatives
are professionals and intellectuals
ii.
they
wanted a liberal, self-governing, federally unified, and democratic Germany
iii.
Peaceable,
legalistic, non-violent
iv.
Timing
of the assembly is too late
1.
fear
of social revolution is fueling reactionary attitudes
v.
Revolution
could not be achieved with out the link between classes
vi.
Riots
in Frankfurt are repressed by the Assembly and calls out the Prussian army to
keep the peace
vii.
Afterward
the Assembly is dependent on the Prussian Army
f.
Questions
of territory
i.
Most
difficult question faced by the Assembly
1.
What
is Germany?
2.
What
are the borders to be?
a.
Great
Germans: Austria and Habsburg Monarchy
b.
Little
Germans: No Austria and Hohenzollern
Monarchy
4.
Dependence on Austrian and Prussian armies
a.
Frankfurt Assembly desired to retain non-German peoples in the new
Germany
i.
These people were feeling national ambitions of their own
1.
Support Windischgratz against the Czechs
2.
Approved of Prussian moves against Poles
3.
Supported the Prussian army against the Berlin Assembly
4.
Depends on the army in war against Denmark (Schleswig)
a.
Prussian army makes peace to avoid a conflict with Russia and
England over the Gulf of Riga
b.
When radical riots broke out against the Junkers and the Frankfurt
Assembly calls in the Prussian army
5.
The Failure of the Frankfurt Assembly
a.
Awakening nationalities failed to respect each other
i.
Quarreling with each other helped the return of the old order
b.
Frankfurt issued a Declaration of the Rights of the German People
(not man)
c.
Offered the crown of “Germany” to Frederick William IV
i.
Accepting the crown would mean
1.
Internal unrest from the Junkers
2.
Forcing his title over the smaller states that had the real power
3.
Challenging Austria and the threat of war
ii.
FW IV declined saying he could not “pick up a crown from the
gutter”
1.
If he was to be emperor it would have to come from the Princes
d.
Most of the Assembly dissolves
e.
Part of what remains calls for riots and elections
f.
Junker army moves in and the Assembly is driven out of Frankfurt
g.
Failures of German liberalism contributed to the estrangement
between Germany and western Europe
6.
The Prussian Constitution of 1850
a.
FW IV produces a constitution
i.
Single parliament for all regions in Prussia
1.
Controlled
by east Elbian Junkers
2.
Rising
industrials will share power with Junkers
ii.
Somewhat
progressive for 1850
1.
Outpaced
by western constitutions that are more liberal
2.
Becomes
a symbol of reaction
3.
Gives
industrialists and large land owners a position of special privilege within the
state