The Negative Impact of the Unification of Germany on Europe

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and South German states was impressive and created the perfect opportunity for Bismarck to bring the southern German states into a unified nation. The French were seen as the dominate land power in Europe but they were no match for a unified German force. Unification was inevitable.

Germany was now unified, but was surrounded by hostel nations. The French, who had been brutally beaten and humiliated by Germany, the Austrians who had been insulted and beaten by Prussia and then abandoned by the rest of Germany, the Russians who were constantly being used by Germany to manipulate situations to their benefit and in the end Germany was now unified and major power. There was general concern thorough out Europe, and particularly from the English, about what everyone felt was a very sudden formation of a powerful nation. The balance of power in Europe had under gone a major shift. There was general unease throughout Europe and in fact, Europe was now probably closer to war than they had been since Napoleon.

Tensions in Europe remained high but, were kept in check by the diplomatic prowess of Otto Von Bismarck, the Chancellor of the German Empire. Bismarck kept peace through, The Concert of Europe. The Concert of Europe was an Agreement between Germany, France, Austria, Russia and Britain. The agreement has no written rules but any of the members could call for a conference to discuss and resolve the conflict. Bismarck was a great diplomate and used this agreement to his advantage and was able to keep Europe in a state of peace and balance.

In 1890 Bismarck was forced to resign by King Wilhelm II. Wilhelm II was not as skilled at the management of the Germany’s unfriendly neighbors and rivals. Without Bismarck keeping the great powers of Europe in check alliances began to spring forth such as the one between France and Russia which again put Germany in bad positon. Germany worrying about war devised a plan, should a two front war occur with France and Russia, the Schlieffen plan. Germany had an opportunity to make an alliance with Britain but due to Wilhelm II’s feelings of inferiority he was unable to come to an agreement with Britain and in the end wanted to show Britain that Germany was stronger and more powerful.

Tensions in Europe were at an all-time high, the major powers were armed and ready for war. It all boiled over when Franz Ferdinand, an Austrian duke next in line for the Austrian throne was assassinated in Sarajevo by Serbian partisans. There was no more keeping the old tensions that began with the unification of Germany at bay and World War I had begun.

Sources:

http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/history/german_unification.html

http://www.flowofhistory.com/units/eme/18/FC121

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/higher/history/nationalism/unification/revision/1/

http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-franco-prussian-war-the-unification-of-germany.html

www.britannica.com/topic/Frankfurt-National-Assembly

http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_document.cfm?document_id=250 (iron and blood quote)

https://history.state.gov/countries/north-german-confederation

http://www.history.com/topics/otto-von-bismarck