In what ways did nationalism develop in Germany in the period 1815-64

Germany in 1815 was not the state that we know it as now, It was a collection of small fragmented states who had little in common and who were even less cooperative. By the end of this period however there had been a rise in one certain cause, one that was made to appeal to the people by its drawing of the people's common beliefs and traditions. Nationalism is the feeling that people have for each other, it embraces certain shared traditions such as language, culture and history. It does not however have to encompass borders drawn up by others.

By 1864 the people of Germany while in very different states had realised they were a "nation" in waiting.For a large collection of states to come together requires a lot in the way of development, especially considering the position that they were in in 1815, therefore over the period many factors have to be taken into account for the development in nationalism, as it is by no means just one reason that brought all the states together but rather the collectivised input of many people and many ideas.To look at the period we need to look at the time just before 1815 when certain events happen that sparked the development of nationalism. When the French revolution erupted, many Germans, welcomed the French Revolution as well as the advance of their armies, hoping it would bring them the new world order, the end of the Ancien Regime, liberty, a constitution based on equality.

However, Napoleon's self-coronation and nepotism turned admiration into disgust, French occupation, it's dissolution of the Holy German Empire of german Nation (1806), it's arbitrary makeover of Germany's political borders, again and again, turned sympathy into hatred. It was Germany's writers, such as Heinrich Von Kleist and Hoelderlin who appealed to the Germans to resist the French, declaring the French the archenemy.When Napoleon's Grande Armee was almost annihilated at the Beresina in 1812, thousands of German burghers and students volunteered to fight in the War of liberation (1813). They expected their effort to be rewarded, demanded a written constitution and German unification.

However, at the Vienna congress (1813-15), where the new world order was shaped, royalty was represented, not the burghers. The royals had not intention of losing their power at the time and so nothing arose. These events therefore sparked a certain amount of nationalism, however because it was not embraced it fell as quickly as it rose.In 1815 nationalism was not strong, for a number of reasons.

Austria and Prussia were the biggest and most powerful states in the region, and heavily dominated affairs in the region. Therefore they were key to the growth of nationalism, as it was there support that would ascertain victory. However both Austria and Prussia in the early part of the period, were very much against nationalism and Liberalism, which was somehow intricately linked they believed. The German states were not doing to badly at the time, there were no warS or deep economics crises, the people of Germany were relatively happy with their lives.

Throughout the ages nationalism has sprung up as a result of hard times whether it be war or economic problems. It was therefore necessary for something bad to happen that would enable the Germans to be angry and demand changes.If we look past 1815 there is a surge of nationalism. It was based on the twin themes of hatred of France and a highly coloured view of Germany's great and as yet unfulfilled role in Europe. It was then fuelled by several situations in which foreign governments appeared to threaten Germany as a whole and which made many Germans who were normally content to think of themselves as Prussians, Bavarians, Hessians or member of other states, discontented that Germany could not speak with a single strong voice at times of crisis.

The vast majority of the German states were ruled by monarchies, and it is these that would provide the key to the growth and development of nationalism. The monarchies regarded liberals and nationalists as subversive elements; written constitutions did not materialize, but secret police did, their first charge being to prevent another revolution. BURSCHENSCHAFTEN (fraternities) were established at universities, which were nationalistic in character. In 1832 the Burschenschaften organized a festival at the castle ruin of Hambach, the HAMBACHER FEST. Students came there from all over Germany. Speakers welcomed nationalists in France, Poland, Italy as their brothers - they had a common enemy, governments trying to reestablish the Ancien Regime (the old way of government, as before the French Revolution).

German nationalists had supported the Polish rebellion (against Russia) of 1830. However, political organizations and political discussions in public were prohibited. VEREINE (clubs, societies) such as choral societies or sports clubs were founded, nationalistic in character. At sessions, the local policeman had to be present to take notes. In such an atmosphere, many burghers, disappointed from politics, withdrew into private life. This was a huge step for the devlopement of nationalism though, so by 1832 there had been another so called "surge" in nationalism, which this time was not followed by a downfall.

While the press in the early 19th century was not as influential as it is today, a considerable amount of "blame" can be put on the press for not embracing the nationalistic feeling, the lack of publicising the ideas of nationalism is to an extent the biggest reason for the lack of development in nationalism at the start of the period. However in 1840 the German press threw its weight behind the nationalist upsurge and there was a flurry of songs and poems such as Deutschland Uber Alles (Germany above the others), which eventually became Germany's national anthem.In 1840 France's parliament openly discussed to extend the French border to the Rhine, which meant the annexation parts of Prussia, this was to prove a huge development in the cause. The newspaper reports about the debate stirred up national sentiment in an instant. Germans were aware of their military weakness - Austria had not won a war on it's own since 1718, Prussia not since Frederick the Great (1740-1786). Again, writers appealed to the Germans to prepare themselves for armed resistance.

Songs like the Guard on the Rhine (1840) and the Song of the Germans (1841) became popular instantly. The French did not extend their border to the Rhine. However, the spirit they had kindled was to haunt them for the next century and was a huge step in the development of German nationalism.As stated earlier Austrian and Prussia were key to the development of German nationalism but German nationalism from the start was associated with militarism and unification. However the desire for unification was a cause of nationalism. Writers regarded military strength as a precondition for the unification yearned for.

However, this very unification was regarded as a threat by Prussia, and even more by Austria.Between 1840 and 1864 there were more and more events that had an impact on the development of German nationalism, perhaps the most well known being the Schleswig Holstein incident, which arose a tremendous amount of sentiment for the cause and the "professors" incident. The latter being not particularly big but it was the national interest, which arose, people from completely different states were for once getting interested in the affairs of another. This is what the picture was like in 1864, one of states nt unified but nationalism was strong, the people felt they belonged to more of a nation than ever.