European Landscape of the 1800s

TIMELINE NATIONALISM AND UNIFICATION

European Landscape of the 1800s

1814- 1815

1853 - 1856

06/14/1866 – 08/23/1866

March 17, 1861

1815 - 1866

Congress of Vienna

Crimean War

German Confederation under Austrian Empire

Italian Unification

Austro-Prussian War / Seven Weeks War

TIMELINE NATIONALISM AND UNIFICATION

European Landscape of the 1800s

07/19/1870 - 01/28/1871

January 18, 1871

June 8, 1867

July 1, 1867

Formation of the German Empire

Austro-Hungarian Empire

Northern German Confederation

Franco-Prussian War

References

Austro-Prussian War. (n.d.). New World Encyclopedia. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Austro-Prussian_War Brain, J. (n.d.). Causes of the Crimean War. Historic UK. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Causes-of-The-Crimean-War/ Congress of Vienna | Delegates, Goals & Significance - Video & Lesson Transcript. (2022, January 19). Study.com. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://study.com/academy/lesson/congress-of-vienna-members-objectives-results.html German Confederation | German Unification, Prussia & Austria. (2023, August 22). Britannica. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/German-Confederation German Unification – AP Central | College Board. (n.d.). AP Central. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/series/lesson-plans-european-history/german-unification Hungarian-Austrian Dual Monarchy & Ausgleich | Compromise of 1867 - Video & Lesson Transcript. (2022, June 23). Study.com. Retrieved September 26, 2023, from https://study.com/learn/lesson/hungarian-austrian-dual-monarchy-ausgleich.html Unification of Italian States - Countries - Office of the Historian. (n.d.). History State Gov. Retrieved September 25, 2023, from https://history.state.gov/countries/issues/italian-unification

German Confederation under Austrian Empire

Cause: The Congress of Vienna's will to bring back order in the separated German-speaking provinces was a major factor in the formation of the German Confederation (1815–1866) following the Napoleonic Wars. It meant to preserve the power of Austria and Prussia while providing a fragile structure that allowed collaboration among various German states. Effect: The German Confederation failed to maintain unity and dealt with escalating nationalistic emotions due to its limited centralized power. The Austro-Prussian War of 1866, which ended the German Confederation and paved the way for the future German Empire, was ultimately sparked by tensions between Austria and Prussia and a desire for greater political union.

Italian Unification

Cause: In the 19th century, a variety of reasons led to the unification of Italy. These included foreign dominance, the separation of the Italian Peninsula into multiple states, the rise of nationalist and liberal movements driven by ideals from the Enlightenment, and the achievement of other European unification attempts. Effect: The Kingdom of Italy came into being under King Victor Emmanuel II in 1871, marking the conclusion of Italian unification under the command of individuals like Giuseppe Garibaldi and Count Camillo di Cavour. While challenges like regional inequality kept going, it marked the end of foreign rule and the founding of a single, independent Italian state.

Franco-Prussian War

Cause: After Prussia gained control of northern Germany, France worried and in 1870, Prussia and France got into a disagreement involving a relative of the Prussian king for the throne of Spain. This later led to Bismark pushing France to declare war on Prussia, known as the Franco-Prussian War. Effect: After Paris surrendered, in May, a peace treaty was signed and France had to pay around $1 billion and give up Alsace and Loraine to German States. The loss of these territories left France furious.

Formation of the German Empire

Cause: During the Franco-Prussian War, long before it ended, Southern German States agreed to enter the North German Confederation. The German Empire was the result of three successful wars by the North German Confederation and Prussia. Denmark, Hapsburg, and France were all defeated in short, decisive conflicts. Effect: On January 18, WIlliam I of Prussia was proclaimed kaiser or emperor of the Second German Empire. The Prussian monarchy and army later achieved German unity, and Germany became the strongest power in all of Europe.

Austro-Hungarian Empire

Cause: The empire's defeat in the Austro-Prussian War (1866) was the primary reason for the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867, also known as the Ausgleich. Negotiations between the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary resulted from Austria-Hungary's need for a new governing system to preserve stability and meet nationalistic desires. Effect: The Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy was created as a result of the Compromise of 1867. With its own administration and authority over its own internal matters, Hungary enjoyed great freedom inside the empire. Despite highlighting the complex and multiethnic structure of the empire, which would ultimately lead to its difficulties and eventual collapse, this compromise offered some stability.

Northern German Confederation

Cause: The North German Confederation was the effect of the Austro-Prussian War. In the 1860s, King William I appointed a prime minister, Count Otto von Bismarck. In 1864, Austria helped Prussia defeat Denmark and then Prussia gained control of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein. Bismarck later declared war on Austria on June 14, 1866 and Prussia defeated Austria on July 3, 1866, betraying them. Effect: After Prussia defeated Austria, Prussia proceeded by organizing the German States in the North German Confederation, Prussia now dominated all of Northern Germany and their growing power and military worried France. This later led to Bismark pushing France to declare war on Prussia. This war was known as the Franco-Prussian War.

Crimean War

Cause: The Crimean War was a result of a long lasting struggle between Russia and the Ottoman Empire. Russia was interested of expanding its powers in the Ottoman lands. This expansion would allow Russian ships to sell through the Dardanelles, between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. If only they could achieve this, they would become the biggest power in Eastern Europe and challenge Britain’s navel forces from the eastern Mediterranean. Russia invadeded the Turkish Balkan lands of Moldavia and Walachia, as a result, the Ottoman Empire declared war on the Russians. Great Britain and France were afraid of Russia’s gains in this battle, so they declared war on Russia a year later. Effect: The aftermath of the Crimean War had significant consequences, particularly the destruction of the Concert of Europe. Austria and Russia, who wanted to maintain the established order before the 1850s were now enemies, due to Austria’s refusal to support Russia in the Crimean War. Russia was left defeated and humiliated, pulled back from European affairs for the next two decades. Russia’s isolation among the major powers paved the war for Italy’s and Germany’s eventual unification. The Crimean War was marked by poor planning and execution, ultimately leading to many deaths and prompting them to seek a peace settlement. In March 1856, the Treaty of Paris was signed, in which Russia placed Moldavia and Walachia under the major European power’s rule.

Austro-Prussian War / Seven Weeks War

Cause: The Austro-Prussian War, also known as the German Civil War of 1866 or the Seven Weeks' War, was primarily caused by long-standing rivalries and power struggles between the two largest German states, Prussia and Austria, in the context of the wider 19th-century European political environment. The need for domination and control within the German Confederation, an informal union of German-speaking states, was one of the primary underlying motives. Effect: The political environment in Europe was drastically and significantly impacted by the Seven Weeks' War. The Austrian Empire remained mainly a rival of the Kingdom of Prussia, under the leadership of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, which won an immediate and decisive victory. By eliminating Austrian influence and making Prussia the leading German-speaking state, this conflict shifted the balance of power in Europe. The German Confederation disbanded after the war, and the North German Confederation came into existence under Prussian rule, establishing the foundation for the eventual unification of Germany in 1871.

Congress of Vienna

Cause: The Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815 was primarily prompted by the aftermath of Napoleon's conquests. Napoleon's reforms, like the revamping of France's education system and the Napoleonic civil code, sparked significant discontent across Europe. These changes challenged the established territorial arrangements and motivated a desire to revert to the pre-Napoleonic order. Effect: The Congress of Vienna resulted in notable transformations in Europe. New borders were drawn, reshaping the continent's political landscape. Despite being required to make reparations, France maintained its strength and size as a major European power. The Congress also took a stance against the slave trade, permitted the international use of rivers for travel and commerce, and established alliances aimed at maintaining a conservative and stable order in Europe, with the goal of preventing future disruptive conflicts.