History of the Unification of Germany essays

History of the Unification of Germany essays In 1815, the country of Germany was divided into 39 independent and separate states. The country's main goal at the time was unification, but nationalists (supporters of a small Germany) and liberals (the German supporters) quarreled over whether to unify Germany under Prussia or include Austria in the process. The attempts to unify Germany and make it liberal failed miserably due to uncompromising attitudes between the two groups, which differed in political opinions. The nationalists, who wanted Germany unified under Prussia, refused to accept a liberal with the crown, and only accepted German princes with it (Doc 3). Many of them, like Bismarck, believed unity occurred with war and conquest (Doc 4). The nationalists were pro- nobility, anti-liberal, and believed that the Junkers were the state because their purpose was to defend their country and control the serfs (Doc 7). The Junkers also resolved to defend God and the King aside from the "Prussian Fatherland." (Doc. 15) They display these feelings of defense as they refuse an imperial crown and show no mercy by calling the liberals, beggars with no money and no laws (Doc. 21). It seems apparent that some people, like King William who believed without the Junkers, Prussia would cease to exist, looked down upon the liberals and conveyed this through their words of hate. The documents and their strong feelings of disregard reflected their opposition because of different views of how to unify G ermany (Doc 8). King Frederick IV also believed that the wall between Germany and unification was the threat from the enemies of the Junkers. He believed Austria was not the cause of threat, reflecting opposition towards the liberals (Doc. 18). Similar to these beliefs were the beliefs of the Junkers who did not think highly of their opposition, thought of them as bankrupt cast-offs, and believed that they were not worthy of even a glass of water (Doc. 21). This case also portrays the confli...