Question 1

Which was the most important, diplomacy or war, in the course of German Unification between 1862 and 1871?

Be careful here; war and diplomacy are not alternatives. War is diplomacy by another means and this should be stated in your answer

Paragraph One

• Diplomacy and war are separable parts of a state’s dealings with other states
• It can never be certain when diplomatic bluffs will fail and war result

Paragraph Two

• Narrative of the earlier part of unification:
• Polish revolt – Bismarck’s support for Russian Tsar
• Schleswig-Holstein 1848 dispute, 1852 Treaty of London and cession of Christian IX of Denmark
• Prussia and Austria invaded duchies (Schleswig to Prussia and Holstein to Austria)

Paragraph Three

• Narrative of next stage:
• Bismarck’s negotiations with Italy and meeting with Napoleon at Biarritz (1865)
• Bismarck engineered dispute with Austria over duchies after Convention of Gastein (give reasons)
• Austro-Prussian War –easy Prussian victory (plus reasons)

Paragraph Four

• North German Confederation (1867) under Prussia
• Its constitution was nucleus of 1871 Empire
• Gradual accommodation between the confederation and South German states
• Bismarck formed secret alliances with these states

Paragraph Five

• Spanish rising and abdication of Isabella – Bismarck suggested Hohenzollern for throne of Spain
• French objections and Ems telegram – Franco-Prussian War plus reasons for Prussian victory – Establishment of German Empire

Paragraph Six

• Importance of diplomacy:
  • Most active diplomacy just before 1866 and 1870 wars – directed towards preventing them
  • Bismarck’s diplomacy could not have brought about unification alone, but, was important enabling factor
  • It secured Russian neutrality; and Italy and France 1866
  • Austria deliberately not humiliated after 1866 war (may have prevented them joining French 1870)

Paragraph Seven

• In the end it was on the battlefield that German unity was forged – diplomacy played secondary role