reasons for growth of nationalism

Rheinbund a

This was important for the growth of nationalism because it was evidence of unification being a necessity for assuring safety and so unification became a characteristic of a protected state.

ernst Arndt a

This was important for the growth of nationalism because writers such as Arndt had a resonant national pride which was infectious in Germany; nationalistic beliefs became more realistic and relatable as writers expressed their own nationalistic ideologies causing their ideas to spread and take flight in Germany.

1848 a

This was important for the growth of nationalism in Germany because nationalistic ideas became much more widely acceptable as unification was on the political agenda.

factors

cultural factors, economic factors, political factors, french influence

Cultural factor knowledge

A prominent nationalistic writer Ernst Arndt wrote highly nationalistic poems and songs such as "Was ist des Deutschen Vaterland," What is this German Fatherland in 1814, which expressed nationalistic beliefs profoundly as he concludes that the German's fatherland is not a single state but a united Germany. The Brothers Grimm collated famous folk stories that portrayed Germany's unique culture, published in 1812.

French influence evaluation

In evaluation, nationalism grew as a result of the Napoleonic War because of the fear instilled over Germany and the hope to avoid repetition of these events, a disunited Germany was easily conquered. However, the legacy of the French revolution, overall, had little effect - despite introducing liberal ideas to Europe, it created more negative connotations with nationalism than anything else for Germans. German nationalism grew from the new celebration of Germany within cultural factors and so they were more important than Napoleon's occupation and the French Revolution in helping the growth of nationalism in Germany.

political factors evaluation

In evaluation, political factors weren't as influential in increasing the growth of nationalism in Germany as economic factors, for most political powers were opposed to nationalism such as Austria's Foreign Minister, Metternich, and the Frankfurt Assembly failed. However, it was still important as it legitimised the issue of what to do about Germany's state of unity - it "helped to stir national consciousness," as argued by Stiles and Farmer. Nationalism became a thing to be considered on a political level, not only idealistically or economically and so it was more important than cultural factors in making nationalism grow productively in Germany.

Vienna settlement a+

However, Austria was the president of the Bund, so political power was still in foreign hands, and so the nationalistic idea of country self-sufficiency was meaningless as Germany had diminished power.

zollverein a +

However, many argue that the Zollverein was more destructive in the quest for nationalistic growth than productive as it led to emphasising the split between the north and south of Germany - states in the north sided with Prussia, states in the south sided with Austria. Nevertheless, the Zollverein proved the necessity of unification and nationalism to many upper-class business men and merchants if Germany wanted to be economically strong.

Brothers Grimm a+

However, the influence of literature would be limited in aiding the growth of nationalism in Germany due to the lack of access to these cultural features: many were illiterate and too poor to be able to afford books.

1848 a+

However, the nationalist Frankfurt Assembly failed in 1849 when Fredrich William IV refused to become a constitutional monarch of a united Germany and so, the 1848 revolution was limited in its importance since their nationalistic efforts eventually failed.

political factors knowledge

In 1815, after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, Austria set up the Vienna Settlement, creating a new German Constitution with Germany and Prussia - a "Bund". It was agreed that the Bund would be governed by a Diet - a parliament. The 1848 revolution was also a cause of the growth of nationalism: there were calls from several German states for meetings to tackle the issue of German unity so in May 1848, 574 German delegates met at the Frankfurt Assembly to discuss Germany's future as a unified country.

background

In 1815, the Vienna Settlement split Germany into 39 states under the control of Austria, having spent hundreds of years divided into 360 different states before Napoleonic occupation from 1803-1815.

Culture evaluation

In evaluation, cultural factors were certainly a contributing factor to the growth of nationalism in Germany as agreed by Historian Friedrich Meinecke in his book Cosmopolitanism and Nationalism, (Weltburgertum und nationalstaat) 1970, "a standard language, a common literature, and a common religion are the most important and powerful cultural assets that create a cultural nation and hold it together." However, as Meinecke said himself, a country that is united by literature, art and music alone won't be able to be held together as one nation successfully - there must be a common religion and a common language. Therefore, cultural factors were to a small extent a cause of nationalism as it could not overreach barriers such as religion and language and the problem that German culture were limited to the rich, literate, cultural elite.

economic factor evaluation

In evaluation, economic factors were extremely significant in the growth of nationalism in Germany. Many historians such as W. Carr, describe the Zollverein "the mighty lever of German Unification." Economic factors were the driving force of the growth of nationalism (once it had appeared due to cultural factors.) Economic factors were more important than cultural factors because they were the driving force that increased the widespread popularity of nationalism; no longer was it simply popular with academics and cultural elite on an ideological and cultural level but also amongst the working classes, business men and merchants who now saw unification as a necessity.

french revolution a+

On the other hand, there were negative connotations with liberalism and nationalism because state rulers feared the anarchy and "Reign of Terror" that came from it and so would try to suppress and avoid nationalism in Germany.

french influence knowledge

The French had a lot of influence over the whole of Europe - the French Revolution 1789-99 and Napoleon's occupation of Germany were also factors that led to the spread of nationalism in Germany. On the 5th of December 1790, Maximilien Robespierre gave a speech introducing what became the paradigmatic line of the entire revolution: "Liberté, égalité, fraternité." During Napoleon's occupation, in 1806, 16 state rulers joined a Confederation of the Rhine, the "Rheinbund," ensuring that they would be within a protectorate under Napoleon's rule.

economic factors

The economic division of the German states meant that trade was expensive due to many different tariffs and taxes, this led to the creation a customs union in 1818, officially established as the Zollverein in 1834. By 1836, 25 of the 39 states had agreed to having a united economy with Prussia to reduce costs of expensive taxes and tariffs.

Brothers Grimm a

These stories were important in the spread of nationalism in Germany because they highlighted the many unique cultural qualities in Germany and so helped provide a unified spirit of national pride across the German states, they were united by their cultural heritage than divided by discrete differences between states.

zollverein a

This led to the growth in Nationalism because it became obvious in Germany that it would greatly benefit economically if it was unified and with the growth of industry in Europe, it was increasingly important to be an economically strong country.

french revolution a

This was important as it introduced new, liberal ways of thinking which inspired many across Europe, including those in Germany, the idea of "brotherhood" introduced the ideologies that would later become nationalism.

Vienna settlement a

This was important because Germany was now politically united into one constitution, with an autonomous government, helping nationalism increase as it was a form of political unification.