States and the Army part two
States and the Army part twoThe Hanseatic Cities and four principalities did not form their own military. Rather, Prussia had units stationed in their capital cities and often those Prussian…
States and the Army part one
States and the Army part oneThe German Army had four distinct elements: Prussian, Württemberg, Saxon, and Bavarian armies. Because they were separate armies, the terminology used by each is often…
The Reichstag
The ReichstagMembers of the Reichstag were elected every three years using universal suffrage. All males who were citizens of any state and over the age of 25 and were neither…
The Bundesrat
The BundesratThe Bundesrat (Federal Council) consisted of deputies from each of the states. The aristocratic ruler of the state (or elected official in the Free Cities) appointed deputies. With the…
The Constitution of 1871
Before we do the next state, we need to establish some background.The Constitution of 1871There are fundamental differences between how Americans understand government and the way that the German Empire…
Bavaria part three
Bavaria part 3Prime Minister Lutz felt the time right for removing Ludwig from the throne. He met with Maximilian’s brother Prince Luitpold. Luitpold was concerned for the House of Wittelsbach…
Imperial Germany
Imperial Germany consisted of the following: Prussia (incl. Lauenburg) Bavaria Württemberg Saxony Baden Mecklenburg-Schwerin Saxe-Weimar Mecklenburg-Strelitz Oldenburg Brunswick Saxe-Meiningen Saxe-Altenburg Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Anhalt Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt Schwarzburg-Sondershausen Waldeck Reuss (Elder Line) Reuss (Younger…
The North German Confederation
The North German ConfederationThe North German Confederation was created in 1867 and primarily centered north of the Main River. Prussia led the 22 member states.Prussia (incl. Lauenburg)SaxonyMecklenburg-SchwerinSaxe-WeimarMecklenburg-StrelitzOldenburgBrunswickSaxe-MeiningenSaxe-AltenburgSaxe-Coburg-GothaAnhaltSchwarzburg-RudolstadtSchwarzburg-SondershausenWaldeckReuss (Elder Line)Reuss (Younger…
Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871
Franco-Prussian War 1870-1871France felt it had lost its primacy over central Europe during the 1866 war. Tensions between France and the North German Confederation mounted steadily, causing France to embark…
The Austria-Prussian War of 1866
The Austria-Prussian War of 1866The Gastein Convention was short-lived. Austria violated the agreement to settle any disputes directly with Prussia when it took its disputes about Holstein directly to the…