The Growth of Nationalism in Germany (1815-1871)

Post-Napoleonic Era and the Rise of Nationalism (1815-1848)

Following the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire during Napoleon’s reign, Germany was restructured into the German Confederation by the Congress of Vienna in 1815, which comprised 39 German states.
This period witnessed the rise of the Burschenschaften, student societies which championed German nationalism, unity, and liberal ideas. Their activism culminated in the Wartburg Festival of 1817, which marked a significant early nationalist movement.
The Carlsbad Decrees of 1819 were countermeasures taken by the Confederation’s conservative powers, suppressing any national and liberal sentiments to preserve the status quo possibly due to fear of revolutionary activities.
However, nationalist sentiments reemerged strongly in the Revolutions of 1848. Despite ultimately failing, the revolutions exposed widespread support for German unification.

The end of the revolutions witnessed an increase in Prussia’s influence. The Prussian King Frederick William IV refused the title of ‘Emperor of the Germans’ offered by the Frankfurt Parliament, signalling a movement towards a “lesser German” solution — a unified Germany under Prussian leadership excluding Austria.
The 1860s saw the rise of Prussian Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck, who pursued a policy of “blood and iron” to achieve unification. His political shrewdness and willingness to pursue war left a profound impact on the path of German nationalism.
The Danish War (1864) and Austro-Prussian War (1866) helped Bismarck consolidate Prussia’s dominance over other German states, led to the creation of the North German Confederation in 1867, and effectively excluded Austria from German affairs.
The Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) marked the last crucial step towards unification. Its victory fostered a sense of national identity, leading to the German states’ willingness to join a united Germany.
Ultimately, William I of Prussia was proclaimed German Emperor in 1871, marking the establishment of the German Empire — a moment of triumph for German nationalism.

German nationalism was not only political but also cultural. The shared language, history, and cultural traditions played vital roles in mobilizing the nationalist sentiment amongst the people.
The romantic nationalism presented by figures like Johann Gottlieb Fichte and the Brothers Grimm in literature and philosophy played a significant role in fostering the feeling of a shared German heritage and culture.
Intellectual movements such as the Vormärz also nurtured liberal and nationalist ideas, contributing to the growth of these sentiments within German society.