Aneesh Asokan 1

German DBQ

In the mid-nineteenth century were some of the greatest revolutions to change the continent of

Europe. Though, in the eighteenth century, the German provinces were scattered and disunited, during

the French revolution in the late eighteenth century, Napoleon brought all the provinces together in to

form the Confederation of the Rhine. As time progressed, and as Napoleon fell, the Germans, lost all

hope for the idea of unification. Before the revolutions of 1848, there were significant political, social

and economical issues

During the French Revolution, radical ideas were being introduced to the separated German

states. These ideas were implied so the German states could begin to develop ideas of unification. To

heavily counter this idea, Klemens von Metternich spoke to the Austrian emperor that they could not let

the German states unify, and use revolutionary ideas (Doc 3). This document is heavily biased,

Metternich, as a child he saw the horrors of what nationalism is capable of. As he grew to become a

minister, he had the same bias, and since the Austrian Empire is comprised of Hungary, any hint of

nationalism would tear the empire apart. So as a precaution, Metternich, being as conservative as

possible, wanted to stop all revolutionary ideas in the Germanic states. To juxtapose this view of

stopping revolutionary ideas thirty years later, Hans von Gagern states in front of the Hessian State

Assembly that a new spirit is coming to Germany, which are new revolutionary ideas. He thinks that

representative and a constitutional monarchy would be ideal for the future of a free Germany (Doc 10).

Like many others during this time period, Gagern has a very optimistic outlook to the future of Germany.

He thinks that once the Germanic States are unified, then they will become the most powerful nation,

more powerful than its rival, Austria.

As political issues arose, social issues arose hand in hand with it. As Metternich placed secret

police throughout the Germanic States, professors in colleges still instilled their beliefs to their students.

Ernst Moritz Arndt cried out that Germany should unify, since all of the provinces speak the same

language. (Doc 1). Though his views are very optimistic, Metternich’s secret police cracked down on

revolutionaries, so the likelihood of his message going to the public is very slim. As the revolution is

winding up, General Joseph von Radowitz, an advisor to King Frederick William IV, stated in his book that

the German princes should struggle to overcome the bourgeoisie. He suggests a socialist method to

become a strong and unified Germany (Doc 8). Radowitz uses French ideas for the betterment of

Germany. Though Radowitz intentions were correct, Joseph von Goerres, a German publicist and

scholar, juxtaposes Radowitz, and made a pamphlet to discuss the problems of Germany. According to

him, the problems are the nobles which take in too much power. Once the nobles are gone, then there

is the introduction of a republic constitution (Doc 2). This pamphlet is dripping with bias because,

Goerres is an exile from Germany who is in France. France had just finished its revolution, but its ideas

are still intact and are alive in France. Being in France, Goerres sees Germany with new eyes. From the

influence of the French is the reason why he suggests a republic constitution. As these new ideas seep

their way into Germany, it is instilled in the minds of bored, angry proletariats, these ideas soon became

actions which were very harsh. According to an anonymous pamphlet, it calls upon the proletariat to

take action upon the people who rule Germany (Doc 11). This document is heavily biased. Using the veil

of anonymity this person can speak their mind because no one can find out who this person is. This

person could be assumed as a German Proletariat, be that is the class that he or she is advocating.

With all of these revolutionary ideas, the economy was also hit. According to Friedrich List, he

states that the economy is hurt because discord between the German States (Doc 5). This is List’s

justification on the unification of Germany. If the Germany does not unify, then there will be no

commerce between states. Once Germany is unified, then it will prosper. An instance where Germany
 Aneesh Asokan 3

feels like a newcomer to the game of industrialization is in the essay by Johann Riegal, who is a

bookseller. According to him, he states that the industrialization has destroyed the jobs of many guilds

and putting out systems (Doc 6). In a way, it was hurt the economy and helped too. It hurt because of all

the jobs the industrialization took away. It helped because of all the merchandise that is made and a

cheaper price. Not only bookkeepers are aroused by this industrialization, so are aristocrats. Bettina con

Arnim, who is the author of This is the Responsibility of the King states that the poor are getting poorer,

and that they still have to pay their rents (Doc 7). Since taxes half spiked in this time period, everyone

needs to pay, except aristocrats, no matter their wealth. This document also is heavily biased toward

lower classes. The nobles really do not care about anything, except themselves, which is why they still

tax the poor even though they are dirt poor. This statement could be taken as a statement suggesting

that the revolution could make the lives these peasants better, but these economic conditions hurt

everyone.

Throughout the early to mid nineteenth century, there were many radical changes and many

different view on politics in Germany. There were many social classes hit because of economic

instability; the social ideas