Growing Prussian Economic

Strength
Growing Prussian economic strength was a major
reason behind German unification. It could be argued
that the Prussian economy was the engine i.e. the
strength and driving force behind unification.
The economic dominance of Prussia led to military
dominance, which in time would lead to political
dominance.




The growth of Prussian Industry
By the 1850s Prussia was leading the economic
development of the German states. By then, the
German states produced 14 million tonnes of coal,
compared to Austrias 2 million tonnes. Over twice as
much pig iron was produced in the German states
than in Austria and the German states had over
5,800 km of railways, compared to 1,500 km in Austria.
This was to have major implications for German unification
in the 1860s. The Prussians were able to mobilise their
troops very quickly at the start of the Austro-Prussian War
in 1866. In 1870, when the Franco Prussian War broke
out, the Prussians were able to mobilise quickly and invade
France, as they had four railway lines to the front,
compared with Frances one.


The Rhineland
The Rhineland became part of Prussia in 1815, after the
defeat of Napoleon.
The discovery of raw materials (mostly coal and iron) in
the Rhineland and the Saarland was exploited by Prussia.
The problem of how to transport raw materials from the
Rhineland to the factories of Berlin and the rest of Prussia
led directly to the formation of the Zollverein.
The Zollverein
There is some debate about whether the Zollverein was a
political union or purely an economic one, but there is no
doubt that it strengthened the links between Prussia and
the rest of the German states.
The Zollverein contributed to the growth of Prussian
railways, which transported people, as well as raw
materials from state to state, tightening the bonds
between the German states and, arguably, making
unification more likely.
The Zollverein expanded in the 1850s to include all but
four (including Austria) of the German states by 1854.
Good Quotes:
By the 1850s, the Prussian economy had
outstripped that of Austria. This would
have far reaching POLITICAL, MILITARY
and ECONOMIC consequences for both
powers McGonigle.
Bismarck believed that it would be iron and
blood which united the German states.
J. M. Keynes argues that unification was
due more to coal and iron.