Addition During The Negotiations With Austria Bismarck example essay topic

'To what extent was Bismarck responsible for Austria's systematic isolation from German affairs between 1860 & 1866?' Otto Von Bismarck was solely responsible for Austria's isolation from German affaires between the years 1860 and 1866. The decision of the Prussian king Wilhelm 1st to give up his political control over Prussia, due to the lack of cooperation from the Prussian Parliament, led to the appointment of Bismarck as President of Prussia by Wilhelm 1st. Bismarck, who accepted the offer readily, set about trying to strengthen Prussia. To help him build up strength he attempted to unify the 39 German states under Prussian, and his own leadership.

In order to do so he would have to defeat Austria and dissolve the German Bund. The years 1860 to 1866 marked Bismarck's systematic attempts to unify Germany under Prussia and isolate Austria from the Bund. Finally on the 26 July 1866 Prussia defeated Austria thereby isolating it from German affaires and took control over 35 of the 39 German states. Prior to 1860 Austria was the strongest member of the German Bund (a confederation including 39 German states).

It held hegemony over the rest of the Bund and was regarded as one of the main powers in Europe. During this time there were many nationalists and liberals in Western Europe and in the Bund. Austria tried to suppress nationalism through the Carlsbad Decree of 1819. She did not want to break up the German Bund since she knew it would be difficult to incorporate its own divergent peoples into a unified Germany. Which would ultimately result in the weakening of Austria. In September 1862 a new leader by the name of Otto Von Bismarck emerged in Prussia.

He was chosen as the president of the new ministry in Prussia by the King of Prussia, Wilhelm 1st. Wilhelm the 1st had decided to abdicate as the King of Prussia over the refusal by the Prussian Parliament to accept a new budget for the Prussian army. However, Wilhelm was persuaded by his Minister of War, General von Roon, to remain king and to call in the aid of Bismarck in forming a new ministry. Bismarck accepted. The first significant step that Bismarck took in isolating Austria was when in 1863, Austria proposed a reformation of the Bund. Bismarck decided to reject this proposal.

Even though the bund was outdated. Bismarck did not want the changes to take place under Austria since this would improve their status in the bund. Bismarck employed the outdated bund as a tool, which he could use at a later date to dissolve the bund. In addition during the negotiations with Austria Bismarck created the impression that Prussia was protecting the smaller states in the bund from Austria. The second major step taken by Bismarck was the way he dealt with the issue of Schleswig and Holstein. Schleswig and Holstein were duchies on the southern border of Denmark, which had been under Danish rule for centuries.

Holstein, which bordered on Germany, was mostly German speaking and was a member of the Bund. In 1863 the king of Denmark, Frederick VII, died and his son, Christian IX, came into power. Christian set about trying to unite Schleswig and Holstein into Denmark, ignoring a former treaty signed by his father, which said that Denmark would not annex the two states. The bund immediately protested. Bismarck saw this issue as an opportunity, which he could use at a later stage as pretext for war against Austria.

He persuaded Austria to intervene together with Prussia in order to uphold the terms of the treaty to which they had both been signatories. Bismarck then demanded Denmark to withdraw from Schleswig but before they had a chance to comply he, together with Austria declared war on Denmark. In February 1864 the troops of the two states invaded Denmark. The main role in the campaign was undertaken by Prussia. This was a chance for Bismarck to test his newly mobilised army. The Prussian army easily defeated the Danish troops.

Denmark was finally forced to sign the treaty of Vienna (1864), renouncing all rights in favour of Austria and Prussia. Between the years 1860 and 1866 Bismarck set about trying to create alliances and secret treaties with a few European countries in order to secure Prussia's victory against Austria, should war come. His first chance came in 1863 with the revolts of the Poles in Russia. Bismarck assured the Tsar that Prussia would supply military aid to assist in crushing the revolts if needed. This help was not required, however Bismarck had gained the friendship of Russia, which he would use for the war with Austria. Two years later, in 1865 Bismarck met the French Emperor, Napoleon 3rd at Biarritz once again to secure his victory.

Bismarck made vague promises to him that if he remained neutral if a war broke out between Prussia and Austria. He promised land compensation along the left bank of the Rhine. Napoleon who underestimate prussia's military power, agreed. He thought that the war would take a long time and would eventually be won by Austria. He could therefore intervene and oblige the exhausted powers to grant him territories along the left bank of the Rhine. Bismarck's next target was Italy whose relationship with Austria was tense.

Italy promised to join Prussia in the case of a war with Austria, in a treaty signed in April 1866. the terms were that they would join Prussia within three months in order to reorganise the Bund. In return Italy would be granted Venetia. The final step in the isolation of Austria was its defeat and the formation of the North German Confederation. Once Bismarck had succeeded in isolating Austria, all that was left to do was to defeat her. It was time for Bismarck to provoke war with Austria over the Schleswig Holstein issue.

Then in June 1866 Austria had unwittingly and foolishly brought the matter of Schleswig and Holstein before the Federal Parliament of the Bund. This was a breach of a treaty called the treaty of Gastein. According to this treaty any difference of opinions between Prussia and Austria over the Schleswig Holstein issue was to be dealt with by the two countries themselves. Bismarck utilised this mistake to order the occupation of Holstein by Prussian troops. On the 15 of June 1866, after mobilizing her forces, Austria declared war on Prussia. Bismarck had thus succeeded in forcing Austria to declare war on Prussia and therefore appear as the aggressor.

During the course of the next three weeks, to the amazement of the rest of Europe, Prussia had successfully conquered both Austria and its allies. What followed was the formation of the NGC (North German Confederation) which replaced the Bund and which was under the control of Bismarck. Bismarck had successfully isolated Austria from German affairs by using his devious and shrewd methods of getting what he wants, by utilising his opportunities and by ingenious diplomatic skills and understanding of the politics of the time

Bibliography

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