In the Context of German Political Development from 1814-1914, to What Extent Did the Process and Outcome of German Political Unification (1848-1871) Reflect Prussias Social and Economic Domination?
Essay Preview: In the Context of German Political Development from 1814-1914, to What Extent Did the Process and Outcome of German Political Unification (1848-1871) Reflect Prussias Social and Economic Domination?
Report this essayThe result of the Revolutionary wars (1775-83) and Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815) had put Europe and the four great dominating powers (Prussia, Britain, and Russia) in a period of exhaustion. Germany would in the leading years play a significant role in the balance of power within Europe and Germany played a significant role in keeping the peace within the next years during the era of restoration from 1815 leading up to the time of German unification of 1848-1871. (
This era of economic boom was strengthened throughout the joint effort of the partnership between Prussia and Germany and the creation of the Prussian Zollverein in 1818 and further expanded upon in 1820 and 1866 to include most of the German states. This interconnection of the states was reinforced by the significant boost in the railway network across Prussia, joining up with most of the German trading states that the Zollverein agreement had established. (
In 1828 the push for forming a Trade Union was taken into action, which led to the creation of the Mid-German Commercial Union between Saxony, Hanover, Brunswick and a few German states. The forming of this Commercial Union was seen as a potential threat towards Prussia as this would restrict its wanted influence over German states, and its interest to access the potential resources that was available for Prussia to be exploited in order for Prussia to rise as the greatest European power. The Commercial Union did not want to see the rise of Prussia and its gain of control in North-Germany, but it would be clear to the Union that Prussias influence would be to much to handle and Prussia soon won the economic battle with the Mid-German Union (
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Although the political leadership of the trade union would be greatly affected by the rising industrialization and development within the European Union, that this should be the case would have been of little surprise. There were quite a few industries of industrial activity of which Prussia was one of a few remaining industries in the EU. The Dutch were a major industrialist of the second half of the 20th century, and Prussia was one of the only countries in Europe in which large amounts of paper trade had reached a climax with the adoption of the European Central Bank system. Prussia had also formed a coalition of German cooperatives and a number of small industry associations over which it was involved in the monetary reform process. The Union found its trade relations extremely relaxed during the 19th century, however, with the Dutch in particular following the same path. Furthermore, Prussia’s efforts to improve the lives of its inhabitants were not based exclusively on its industrial development, a fact that would have made things uncomfortable. Prussia would have to make concessions at a time when the industrialisation of Prussia on the one hand was increasing as the European Union grew much more developed and developed on the other hand. As a result, Prussia’s trade relations with Germany were often strained between the two states, and their dealings might still be strained if it became too expensive to exchange goods in Germany. This was not an accident. During the time of the industrialization, the Dutch were interested in Prussia’s commercial interests, so Prussia’s growing prominence and dominance in the market economy under the administration of Chancellor Otto von Humboldt was another major example of a country looking to trade with Prussia.
It was not till the mid 20th century that the development of the industrialization of Germany began to make its trade relations more efficient as the economic reforms were made to the European Union. It was in 1841 that Germany decided to buy more of Prussia’s production from Britain’s and the US’ Industrial Revolution was also starting to take shape. At one time, a large number of factories were built in the Netherlands and two German banks were founded. Of course, German firms started producing more industrial commodities in this way, as well as in more general items like watches and other products. Although the industrialization in Prussia soon started to take a turn for the worse, there was still hope of greater improvements in Prussia’s economy thanks to the reforms made at the end of the 20th century. At the end of 1841, a large part of Germany’s foreign exchange reserves were invested. On the whole, German banks and enterprises were well equipped to manage the foreign exchange, and Prussia made a fortune as a major player in this trade. It was by combining these factors that Germany could turn to industrialization and finance the development of industrial development in the Netherlands and Germany.