Unification of Germany in the 19th century

In the early 19th century Germany was called the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation, which included more than 300 states. Among them, Austria, Bavaria, Saxony, Prussia, Württemberg and others had the greatest influence. These states submitted to the emperor and the diet only formally, possessing almost complete independence.

The unification of Germany in the 19th century was carried out under the influence of many factors. For example, from an economic point of view, there was a need to create a single economic space. Different monetary currencies, numerous customs barriers hampered the development of trade. In addition, to reflect external threats, the state should have been cohesive, strong and powerful, and not fragmented. It needed a single centralized power. That is why the unification of Germany was only a matter of time.

As a result of the war with Napoleon, the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation ceased to exist. In the territories of western Germany from 1806 to 1813, the Rhine Union was formed , which included 16 states that pledged themselves to participate in hostilities on the side of France. On these lands, Napoleon abolished serfdom and in 1804 introduced the Civil Code. However, after the defeat of Napoleon, the union disintegrated.

In 1815, at the Congress of Vienna, under the hegemony of Austria, 4 free cities and 34 states were merged into the German Union. They retained their independence, but Austria played the leading role, which presided as the largest state in the ruling body, the Union Diet.

In 1834, the Customs Union was formed, which included Prussia, Bavaria and 16 other states. It was led by Prussia, which also sought to unify Germany. This was facilitated by the increasing industrial strength with each passing year.

For the unification of Germany, two large states, Austria and Prussia, fought under their own authority. The first was a Catholic and multiethnic country. Therefore, the national question stood before her sharply. In addition, it was economically backward.

The unification of Germany was carried out by military means. In 1866, Bismarck, who was at the head of the Prussian troops, concluded a secret agreement with Italy against Austria. In June of the same year, he provoked the war, taking Holstein. At the suggestion of Austria, the Allied Seim decided to mobilize troops against Prussia. As a result, Prussian and Italian troops attacked Austria and its allies. The latter were defeated. August 24, 1866 in Prague was signed with Prussia peace treaty, under which Austria renounced claims to hegemony in the states of Germany.

After the victory of Prussia over Austria, the first became the only unifier. To connect the northern Germanic lands, Prussia defeated Denmark, and southern and western - defeated France. As a result of the unification of states, Berlin became the capital of the German Empire, the political center of Prussia. In form of government, it became a constitutional monarchy. The emperor (the Kaiser) was the King of Prussia. Legislative power was exercised by the parliament. It consisted of two chambers: the Bundesrat (Union Council) and the Reichstag (Imperial Assembly).

The unification of Germany in 1871 was enshrined in the Constitution, which was adopted on April 16 by the Constituent Reichstag. The state was a federation built on a territorial basis and consisting of three groups. The first included 22 monarchies: 4 kingdoms, 7 principalities and 11 grand principalities. The second consisted of free cities with a republican structure. And the third included the imperial lands - Alsace and Lorraine.

The unification of Germany led to its considerable strengthening: it became a great European power, which had a great influence on the subsequent history.