Why Was Bismarck More Successful Than the Revolutionaries
Bismarck was more successful at unifying Germany in the years 1848 – 1849 than the revolutionaries because Bismarck was the chief architect of the German unification, and he had Prussian support and the Prussian army. The revolutionaries were divided and had different aims for Germany.
The revolutionaries were deeply divided over the national question; should Germany be unified or not? They were also divided on social issues and constitutional grounds. The revolutionaries also had disputes over religious, regional and class divisions. However, all these issues helped Bismarck succeed because while the revolutionaries could not meet an agreement, this meant that he was gaining more support.
Bismarck wanted German unification, without Austria being part of it and with Prussian domination. Bismarck achieved this using the Prussia, which was the economically and by army the strongest area part of the German Confederation. German unification was the immediate result of three short wars; against Denmark in 1864, against Austria in 1864 and France in 1870 – 1871. The Prussian army played a large role in these three wars which brought German unification. The power in the German Confederation lay in the middle classes and nobility, and a strong liberal idea was increasing between the middle class and the nobility. However, the revolutionaries were divided because every single of the thirty-nine states which made up the German Confederation had their own interest and own will of being in domination in the unified Germany. The only common idea they had was the emergence of liberalism and the search for national unity. The idea of unity was largely influenced by the French Revolution is 1789 and further revolutions in 1848.
The revolutionaries failed to unseat the old rulers. The old rulers regaining their confidence organized counter revolutions in autumn of 1848, not least in Austria and Prussia. The rulers could organize counter-revolutions because they were still able
The revolutionaries were deeply divided over the national question; should Germany be unified or not? They were also divided on social issues and constitutional grounds. The revolutionaries also had disputes over religious, regional and class divisions. However, all these issues helped Bismarck succeed because while the revolutionaries could not meet an agreement, this meant that he was gaining more support.
Bismarck wanted German unification, without Austria being part of it and with Prussian domination. Bismarck achieved this using the Prussia, which was the economically and by army the strongest area part of the German Confederation. German unification was the immediate result of three short wars; against Denmark in 1864, against Austria in 1864 and France in 1870 – 1871. The Prussian army played a large role in these three wars which brought German unification. The power in the German Confederation lay in the middle classes and nobility, and a strong liberal idea was increasing between the middle class and the nobility. However, the revolutionaries were divided because every single of the thirty-nine states which made up the German Confederation had their own interest and own will of being in domination in the unified Germany. The only common idea they had was the emergence of liberalism and the search for national unity. The idea of unity was largely influenced by the French Revolution is 1789 and further revolutions in 1848.
The revolutionaries failed to unseat the old rulers. The old rulers regaining their confidence organized counter revolutions in autumn of 1848, not least in Austria and Prussia. The rulers could organize counter-revolutions because they were still able