The German Confederation
The German Confederation was a loose association of 39 German states established after the fall of the Napoleonic Empire in 1815, following the Congress of Vienna. Here are some key points about the Confederation:
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Formation: The Confederation was formed in 1815 to replace the former Holy Roman Empire, which had been dissolved by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806. Its creation aimed to balance power in Central Europe and prevent French expansionism.
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Structure: It was not a centralized state but rather a union of sovereign states. The Confederation had a Federal Assembly (Bundestag) in Frankfurt, where each state had a vote, but decisions were often made by consensus or required a two-thirds majority.
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Membership: The largest and most influential members were Austria and Prussia, with Austria holding the presidency. Other significant states included Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg.
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Objectives: The Confederation was tasked with:
- Ensuring the external security of the German states against foreign threats.
- Maintaining internal peace and order among its members.
- Promoting economic cooperation, although this was limited.
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Political Dynamics: The Confederation was marked by a struggle between liberal forces pushing for unification and conservative forces, led by Austria, favoring the status quo. This led to:
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Dissolution: The Confederation was effectively dissolved after Prussia's victory in the Austro-Prussian War. It was replaced by the North German Confederation in 1867, which was a step towards the unification of Germany under Prussian leadership, culminating in the establishment of the German Empire in 1871.
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