Germany

2 Pages 517 Words

Germany in transition

1815 – Congress of Vienna – the ordering of German speaking countries
After the defeat of France the victorious powers, Britain, Russia, Austria and Prussia, concluded peacemaking recognising the 38 States of the German Confederation. Some of these states were newly created states while others were restorations of the Holy Roman Empire. Although losing eastern territory to Russia, Prussia was doubled in size after land in the Rhineland and Westphalia was granted to her, making her the dominant power in northern Germany.

Monarchies and principalities were in still in operation using their own courts and applying their own oaths of allegiance. However there were problems with newly established monarchs where loyalties had to be constructed through manufacturing of an image ( Frederich William III ).

The states organised themselves, especially Prussia, more authoritatively than before in areas such as, security of borders, taxes, the military and education. Many of the natural resources became state owned, especially the coal mines of Saarland and the many German forests. Universities were founded and very well funded with an emphasis based on uniformity of approach especially in the area of university degrees.

In the period between 1814 –1819 eleven different states drew up constitutions. In the most liberal of these, Baden, a house of parliament containing both a house for the lords and commons was established. Burschenschaften (1815) drew up the modern three striped German flag of today, leaving liberal reformers optimistic. However this optimism was short lived with the reactionary decade of the 1820s, with formal politics replaced by societies and the mass circulation of political pamphlets.

1830 Revolts – Reasons
1) Limited freedom of the 1820s, especially where the right to vote was concerned.
2) Poor harvest in 1830, as well as a rise in the price of bread.
3) Cus...