10.1 Flashcards
(28 cards)
Who was Otto von Bismarck?
A leader from Prussia who succeeded in unifying German-speaking states under Prussian rule.
What is a chancellor?
The highest official of a monarch.
What is Realpolitik?
Realistic politics based on the needs of the state; an ideology that favors power over principle.
What does it mean to annex land?
To take control of land, usually by force or political agreement.
What is a kaiser?
An emperor.
What does Reich mean?
German empire.
How did Otto von Bismarck lead the drive for German unity?
By becoming chancellor of Prussia and building a unified German state through war, alliances, and Realpolitik.
In the early 1800s, where did German-speaking people live?
In several small states.
What were three changes Napoleon brought to German-speaking territories?
- He dissolved the Holy Roman Empire.
- He organized German states into the Rhine Confederation.
- He made trade easier in the region.
What effect did fighting against French rule have on German-speaking people?
It encouraged them to consider creating a united German state.
Why was creating a united Germany difficult?
• It required dissolving the small governments of each German state.
• Leaders created a weak alliance called the German Confederation.
• Germany remained fragmented politically despite the Zollverein.
What was the Zollverein?
An economic union created by Prussia in the 1830s to ease trade between German states.
What title did Bismarck first achieve in 1862?
Prime minister of Prussia.
What did Bismarck later become after prime minister?
Chancellor of Prussia.
What was Bismarck determined to do as chancellor?
Unite Germany under Prussian rule using the policy of ‘blood and iron.’
What was the ‘blood and iron’ policy?
A strategy using war and industrial strength to achieve political goals.
What did Bismarck do to support his Realpolitik strategy?
He strengthened the Prussian army.
How many wars did Bismarck lead Prussia into to unify Germany?
Three wars.
What alliance did Bismarck form first?
An alliance with Austria.
What territory did Prussia seize with Austria’s help?
Provinces from Denmark.
What happened after Bismarck attacked Austria?
He annexed several German states and dissolved the German Confederation, replacing it with a new one led by Prussia.
When did the unification of Germany under Prussian rule mainly occur?
Between 1865 and 1871.
What war broke out in 1870 that helped unify Germany?
The Franco-Prussian War.
How did Bismarck provoke the Franco-Prussian War?
He edited a telegram to make it seem like King William I insulted a French ambassador.
