HIST-2300 Study Guide - Fall 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes -
12 Oct 2018
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Department
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HIST-2300
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
Forging an Empire: Section 5
1. Bismarck’s Diplomatic and Military Gamble through British Eyes (February-August
1866)
● Bismarck not gonna defer to Austria → Austria didn’t like
● Seven-Weeks War (Austro-Prussian), won Battle of Koniggratz and got peace of
Nikolsburg
○ Established Northern German Confederation and annexed smaller states
● (Who provoked the war?→ who declared it)
● Bismarck: “The struggle will be severe. Prussia may lose, but she will, at all events, have
fought bravely and honourably. If we are beaten,” Count Bismarck said, “I shall not
return here. I shall fall in the last charge. One can but die once; and if beaten, it is better
to die.”
● Feared growing power of Prussia
● Bismarck wanted to create and large unified Germany → different aims than Frankfurt
Assembly to create parliamentary gov → Prussia wants to take over
● Difficulties in uniting Prussia:
○ The “constitution” (almost non-existent)
○ reactionary tendency of a triumphant military party
○ the strong “particularist” feelings in the dispossessed States (loyalty to old state)
○ fanaticism of a feudal class
○ active pressure of the Progressivist party
2. "Bismarck is now the Most Popular Man in Prussia": Wilhelm von Kügelgen after the
Battle of Königgrätz (July 5, 1866)
● Not very popular before battle → too reactionary or too liberal to some
● Post battle → stunning military victory: beat the supposedly stronger Austrians
○ “Bismarck is now the most popular man in Prussia. Everyone sings his praises,
even the Democrats”
3. The Public Mood in Bavaria and Other Federal States through British Eyes (December
3, 1866)
● Victory increased prestige and made them much larger → still needed Southern states
● Conquered states are not too happy
● Still some internal struggles as before
● Hanover, Frankfurt and Saxony were not happy to be conquered even though it’s
beneficial → didn’t like loss of independence and Dynasty
● Baden wants in → Wurtenburg does not
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
● Bavaria wants protection from France and to be in with Prussia
○ Prussia refuses because they want to lead Germany by their own terms
● Possibility of Austro-French Alliance
● Prussia is forcing new members of the confederation to militarize like them and build up
their armies further
● Brits believe France will seek a war to challenge Prussia’s new power and their
aggrandisement (power seeking act)
● Prussia is now more aggressive
● Prussia supported Polish suppression by Russia
● Russia might see Prussia as an ally against Austria
4. Bismarck Remembers the Evening the Ems Dispatch was Edited (July 13, 1870)
● Throne of Spain offered to German (Leopold of Hohenzollern) → France protested and
minister talked with Wilhelm and a telegram was sent back to Bismarck
○ He edited the telegram in a way as which to provoke the French
● France declared war on July 19 and the Franco-Prussian War began
○ Made Prussia look like the victim of French aggression
■ Convinced the other German states to join in the fighting and then
eventually into the German empire
● Bismarck claimed her just shortened it and struck out a few words
○ Now sounded like a flourish in answer to a challenge
5. Original and Edited Versions of the Ems Dispatch (July 13, 1870)
● Made it sound much more combative and emphasized how the King refused the request
of the ambassador and sent him away
10. Final Discussions before the Proclamation of the German Empire (January 17-18,
1871)
● Wilhelm believed Prussian King to be higher than German Emperor → thought the
promotion was meaningless
○ Didn’t want to be “German Emperor” wanted to be “Emperor of Germany”
● Bismarck made final cheer “Emperor Wilhelm” to work with the constitution etc.
11. Receipt of Monies from France and Expenditures in Germany from the French War
Indemnity (1870s)
● Germans forced France to pay war indemnity → pissed France off
● Distributed money to officers → screwed foot soldiers and showed the elitism in society
18. Constitution of the German Empire (April 16, 1871)
● New Empire’s constitution → balanced monarchical and federal elements
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Forging an empire: section 5: bismarck"s diplomatic and military gamble through british eyes (february-august. Bismarck not gonna defer to austria austria didn"t like. Seven-weeks war (austro-prussian), won battle of koniggratz and got peace of. Established northern german confederation and annexed smaller states (who provoked the war? who declared it) Prussia may lose, but she will, at all events, have fought bravely and honourably. If we are beaten, count bismarck said, i shall not return here. One can but die once; and if beaten, it is better to die. Bismarck wanted to create and large unified germany different aims than frankfurt. Assembly to create parliamentary gov prussia wants to take over. Not very popular before battle too reactionary or too liberal to some. Post battle stunning military victory: beat the supposedly stronger austrians. Bismarck is now the most popular man in prussia.
