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German History The period of German history between 1820 - 1960 is marked by such a phenomenon as rising nationalism which had peculiarities caused by internal and external factors. Nationalism is initially linked with liberals who lead the call for unity versus the old rulers. The idea of the people making up the nation and nationalism can go well together - idea of popular sovereignty. Liberals in Germany especially tended to stress the power of the state to unify. Liberal hopes for German unification were not met during the politically turbulent 1848 - 49 period.
A Prussian plan for a smaller union was dropped in late 1850 after Austria threatened Prussia with war. Despite this setback, desire for some kind of German unity, either with or without Austria, grew during the 1850 s and 1860 s. It was no longer a notion cherished by a few, but had proponents in all social classes. An indication of this wider range of support (in comparison with the beginning of the 1820 th) was the change of mind about German nationalism experienced by an obscure Prussian diplomat, Otto von Bismarck. He had been an adamant opponent of German nationalism in the late 1840 s. During the 1850 s, however, Bismarck had concluded that Prussia would have to harness German nationalism for its own purposes if it were to thrive.
As an ardent and aggressive Prussian nationalist (which was not observed earlier), Bismarck had long been an opponent of Austria because both states sought primacy within the same area of Germany. Nationalist liberals lead all 1848 revolutions but none obtained their goals - 1848 marks, especially for Germany the beginning of a new sort of nationalism. Unification is supported by the liberals, but it is kings, not the people who bring it about. This failure marked a break between liberalism and nationalism but one that perhaps inherent.
German nationalism from the start was associated with militarism. The writers regarded military strength as a precondition for the unification yearned for. The German princes stirred up nationalistic feelings in the German population to help raise armies to drive Napoleon's forces out of German territory. Economic nationalism gave a start to political nationalism.
Industrialization was gaining pace in Germany. Businessmen wanted to increase the markets available for their goods to maximize profits. A single Germany without so many taxes and tariffs would help trade and increase prosperity. This economic co-operation was so successful it made people think of political union Germany is united by semi-authoritarian nationalism. The manner of Germany's unification effects the kind of state it is. Not a liberal democracy, but a slightly limited monarchy, still dominated by the old ruling class, and not the bourgeoisie as in other countries.
Being a progressive politician, W. von Humboldt shared the opinion inherent to German burghers and students volunteered to fight in the Wars of Liberation (1813) in the Memorandum. He stated that the German nation needed written Constitution which legitimated the country's laws, education, administration, and military organization. He emphasized the importance to the army of moral incentives, personal courage, and individual responsibility. He also introduced the principle of competition and abandoned the privileges accorded to nobility within the officer corps. This document appeal to many people being a written confirmation of their aspiration for equal rights.
The other document written by Johann Georg August Wirth expressed the ideas promulgated by Humboldt making a great step in comparison with Humboldt's. Wirth considered that the primary and urgent problem of German nation was the necessity to reconstruct the Political system of the country, because without it the further unification would be impossible. The country could be united if it had political identity, firm law of equality and rights. He expressed the idea of freedom of speech and an elected parliament that would represent the middle-class interests.
These two documents formed political thought of Germany preparing a ground for further changes. The latter manifest included more progressive ideas understanding the role and the necessity of reconstruction the political power. It made a great leap in self consciousness of German nation. Bibliography 1. Carsten, F. L.
The Origins of Prussia. - Oxford: Clarendon, 1954. 234 p. 2. Barclay, David E. Frederick William IV and the Prussian monarchy, 1840 - 1861. - Oxford: Clarendon, 1995. 134 p. 3. Blackburn, David and Geoff Eley, The Peculiarities of German History: Bourgeois Society and Politics in Nineteenth Century Germany. - Oxford UP, 1984. 198 p. 4. Sheehan, James J. German Liberalism in the Nineteenth Century. - Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1978. 254 p. 5.
Carr, William. The Origins of the Wars of German Unification. - London: Longman, 1991. 376 p. 6. Hughes, Michael. Nationalism and Identity: Germany 1800 - 1945. - London: Edward Arnold, 1988. 184 p.
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Research essay sample on German Nationalism Oxford Clarendon
