The German Empire
History-Blog by Saskia (Lena, Nina and Melissa)
Sonntag, 6. Februar 2011
The German Wars Of Unification
Due to a federal execution Prussia and Austria were at war in 1864 against Denmark over Schleswig-Holstein side by side, and they won.
Thus they got into a dispute over Schleswig-Holstein in 1866 and this finally solved in the war between Austria and Prussia . Prussia fought with Italy, the associations of some southern German states, against Austria and won again. In the end the German Confederation was lost, so the North German Confederation was established under Prussian leadership.
Prussia and France began to dispute in 1870 to the Spanish throne. France called for a waiver of Prussia, but Wilhelm I rejected this in a telegram, called the Emser Depesche, to the former Ambassador in Paris, Otto von Bismarck. After Bismarck had reduced the telegram and let newspapers publishing it, France declaredwar on Prussia and Prussia won again.
Before that war, the southern German states joined Prussia, because they feared a French attack. Bismarck took advantage of this opportunity to advance the crowning of a prussian king to the emperor of Germany and incorporating the southern German states into a united kingdom.
These three wars, in the years 1864-1871 are known as the German wars of unification.
Thus they got into a dispute over Schleswig-Holstein in 1866 and this finally solved in the war between Austria and Prussia . Prussia fought with Italy, the associations of some southern German states, against Austria and won again. In the end the German Confederation was lost, so the North German Confederation was established under Prussian leadership.
Prussia and France began to dispute in 1870 to the Spanish throne. France called for a waiver of Prussia, but Wilhelm I rejected this in a telegram, called the Emser Depesche, to the former Ambassador in Paris, Otto von Bismarck. After Bismarck had reduced the telegram and let newspapers publishing it, France declaredwar on Prussia and Prussia won again.
Before that war, the southern German states joined Prussia, because they feared a French attack. Bismarck took advantage of this opportunity to advance the crowning of a prussian king to the emperor of Germany and incorporating the southern German states into a united kingdom.
These three wars, in the years 1864-1871 are known as the German wars of unification.
Foreign Policy
Bismarck was reponsible for the foreign policy of united Germany.
With the founding of the German Empire, a new major power in Europe had emerged , and this first had to find it's place in the system of other powers. The policy of Germany appeared to the other States as it can not be calculated. There were several options to integrate itself into the state system. Bismarck settled on the variant as an "honest agent".
In the peace settlement of Frankfurt-on-Main, the German Empire demanded reparations of five billion francs and stationed an army for four years in France until the amount was paid. Added the territories of Alsace and the coal-producing Lorraine to their empire.
Germany had a populationn of 39 million people and more miles of railway, which were better arranged for military purposes, than other states of Europe. The shorter military service mobilised the workers better and the consumption from modern energy was 50% larger. The iron and steel production, and also the gross national product wer 2 1/2 times as great. Germany became the most powerful country in Europe.
With the founding of the German Empire, a new major power in Europe had emerged , and this first had to find it's place in the system of other powers. The policy of Germany appeared to the other States as it can not be calculated. There were several options to integrate itself into the state system. Bismarck settled on the variant as an "honest agent".
In the peace settlement of Frankfurt-on-Main, the German Empire demanded reparations of five billion francs and stationed an army for four years in France until the amount was paid. Added the territories of Alsace and the coal-producing Lorraine to their empire.
Germany had a populationn of 39 million people and more miles of railway, which were better arranged for military purposes, than other states of Europe. The shorter military service mobilised the workers better and the consumption from modern energy was 50% larger. The iron and steel production, and also the gross national product wer 2 1/2 times as great. Germany became the most powerful country in Europe.
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The German Reich |
Bildquelle: http://www.deuframat.de/parser/parser.php?file=/deuframat/deutsch/6/6_3/bredow/kap1.htm |
Samstag, 5. Februar 2011
The German Empire
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German Flag |
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Imperial Eagle |
Bilderquelle: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsches_Kaiserreich
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Emperor Wilhelm I Bildquelle: http://mickmaurer.com/images/200px-Wilhelm1.jpg |
Otto von Bismarck Bildquelle: www.oel-bild.de/ |
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Founding of the Empire |
Freitag, 4. Februar 2011
The Constitution
The constitution has applied since April 16, 1871. It was developed in 1866 by the North German Confederation.
The German Emperor was also king of Prussia. He had the command of the army and also could decide about the Chancellor. He also may convene or dissolve the Reichstag.
The Chancellor, who was also Prime Minister of Prussia, was the President of the Federal council. He was controlled by the Reichstag, and could decide about the Imperial Government.
The Reichstag consisted of 397 members. They decide about the etat permit, the Legislative initiative and the Legislative decisions (Etatbewilligung, Gesetzesinitiative, Gesetzesbeschlüsse). The Members were elected all 3 years, by men more than 25 years old.
The Federal Council is governed by their President, the Chancellor. They were 58 Representatives of the 25 State Governments, 17 of them were from Prussia. They made administrative regulations for the Empire and had to approve laws passed by the Reichstag.
The German Emperor was also king of Prussia. He had the command of the army and also could decide about the Chancellor. He also may convene or dissolve the Reichstag.
The Chancellor, who was also Prime Minister of Prussia, was the President of the Federal council. He was controlled by the Reichstag, and could decide about the Imperial Government.
The Reichstag consisted of 397 members. They decide about the etat permit, the Legislative initiative and the Legislative decisions (Etatbewilligung, Gesetzesinitiative, Gesetzesbeschlüsse). The Members were elected all 3 years, by men more than 25 years old.
The Federal Council is governed by their President, the Chancellor. They were 58 Representatives of the 25 State Governments, 17 of them were from Prussia. They made administrative regulations for the Empire and had to approve laws passed by the Reichstag.
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Bildquelle: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsches_Kaiserreich |
Foundation
On 18 January 1871 was William I in the Palace of Versailles in France proclaimed German Emperor and founded the German Empire.
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Bildquelle: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsches_Kaiserreich |
The Imperial Eagle (Reichsadler)
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