Global History Topics

[Dr. Ducky-D 277]

'ightsky! So let's get to business...

 

My purpose for posting is I've gotta know what to pick as a topic for my quarterly project in Global History class!

 

My last project was from the beginning of the age of imperialism to the end of WWI, I'll post it here if you're interested in reading it.

 

 

Overview: The Reichs in Time

The word Reich is German and has a few rough meanings, such as Kingdom, Realm, or Empire. There are three Reichs that have been established thus far throughout history. Despite its name, the Holy Roman Empire was the first Reich, and was strongly German at heart; as the King of Germany was the very core of it. This lasted from 962-1806, rounding up to around 850 years. Its name would not appear to make it a Reich, but as stated before that is the beginning of what is to come.

The Second Reich was composed by the self-proclaimed Emperor, Otto Von Bismarck. Although this can be explained further down the line, he unified the German states; establishing a firm unification. Interesting enough, he made the states into a force to be reckoned with. Albeit he sought the betterment of this unity, it could not last forever. This will be what is mainly focused upon, and will be lead up to through history.

The Third Reich is arguably the most known of the following; as the followed actions were one of the most recent tragedies. The Third Reich was firmly established by Adolf Hitler, whom wished to raise Germany back up to its feet after the first World War. People rose alongside him, wishing to see their formerly powerful land to be in foothold in Europe once more; if not more. The political party known as the Nazis ran successfully with Adolf Hitler as their head, forming the name of “Nazi Germany.” It should be noted that they sought to make a Great Germanic Reich, but failed in their attempt to do so.

Prussia’s Emergence

Since about the time of 1815, there was an established alliance known as the German Confederacy. Said Confederacy was composed of 39 states, though two stuck out more than the rest. Of all 39, the Prussian and Austro-Hungarian Empires were the most powerful; as well as the largest. Nonetheless, there was a revolution within 1848 that would establish powerful ties. Friedrich Wilhelm IV would be displaced, and in 1861 Wilhelm I would succeed him. (Note that a liberal constitution would be drawn as well, making the parliament.)

Later on, some would say there was a political struggle of sorts. Wilhelm I wished for Prussia to have a larger army, seeing great things for the state. Although he sought it, the Prussian Parliament denied his claim to make such; in turn he received no money to do so. This refusal would be seen as a challenge to his own power, angering the Emperor. Within a smaller group of a political group known as “Junkers,” Wilhelm I would find Otto Von Bismarck; a prime component.

 

This group wished for a larger army to be made in the first place, seeing Wilhelm I’s views as just. Otto Von Bismarck was no different, and on 1862 he was appointed as the Prime Minister by the Emperor. In this position, he could hold proper political power alongside Wilhelm I and push for this larger military. Something he didn’t expect, would be that the parliament would still deny his claim to forge a larger army, spending no funds. Without further ado, Wilhelm I gave permission to his Prime Minister to declare that his Emperor would no longer rule with the consent of the Parliament, or even within legal budget.

All of these actions would be directly breaking the Prussian constitution established not too long ago. Bismarck had larger plans for Prussia, of which he would be able to do much more. He sought to unite all of the Germanic States under Prussian rule; making them a power to be reckoned with. He was known to not have cared much for the politics and speeches. However, there is a famous quote of his, one that would bring bravery to many, “With blood and iron.”

The German Empire

Searching for a beginning in this conquest, Bismarck turned his attention to the two territories known as Schleswig and Holstein. Both were owned by Denmark, though held apparent political ties to Germany; as well as culturally. The Emperor, Wilhelm I, spoke to the (at that time) current Emperor of Austria, proposing that they hold these lands with their troops in order to not break their international agreement that allowed their separate status. In turn, Austria agreed to assist in fear of Prussia beginning to act alone in their conquest. Eventually Denmark sparked war within itself, leaving the two large Empires the victors.

Austria got Holstein while Prussia received Schleswig for their war efforts. Funny enough, Bismarck soon provoked war with Austria in order to gain control of Holstein and make the two gained lands completely annexed under Prussia. In result a war started dubbed, “The Seven Weeks’ War,” which is what the name itself implies. As it lasted only so long, Prussia came out on top; Holstein and Schleswig annexed under them completely. This was more so an extension of Prussia in general, though the more powerful force in Europe known as the Northern German Confederacy continued through.

 

France, under Napoleon, had assisted in the provocation in the first place to spark the Austro-Prussian war. This was to make himself able to expand into Germany, and stop the rising threat of Prussia. Nonetheless, this failed and he was upset of the situation entirely as Prussia increased in power. German unification was just yet to become true underneath Prussia. France would resist this unification however, as this power rose as a threatening opposing force to all Euro powers.

In the year of 1870 Bismarck influenced Prince Leopold to vie for the Spanish throne. France was upsetted by this, and Wilhelm I withdrew Prince Leopold on his behalf as France had nigh demanded. This was not however, and they threatened war lest they never went for candidature again and apologized. They exchanged letters, to which Bismarck edited and released to the press; needless to say, nationalists saw the French arrogance as a massive insult. As Napoleon was assured his military was ready to fight, he and his advisors began the Franco-Prussian war.

Bismarck welcomed the war with open arms, seeming to have all fallen into correct stature. The Prussians not only outnumbered the French, but held a much further generalship over the large amount of men. The French soldiers were nearly distraught under orders, as their generals had not lead such numbers before. Napoleon surrendered with nearly half their army, as the Prussians advanced upon Paris. After several revolutions and civil wars, the republicans of France gradually took over and surrendered over to Prussia under harsh peace terms.

After the Franco-Prussian war, nationalistic feelings were at a new high throughout the Germanic peoples. France was forced to pay 5 billion francs, eventually paying them off and making them leave France’s occupation. Bismarck made it nearly impossible for the French to start a revenge war, but the debt was repaid within three years. On January 18, 1871 Wilhelm I was inevitably declared the Emperor of Germany. It was high time, now the Germans were united and the Second Reich was formed. Bismarck had now been made the Imperial Chancellor, and for the first time, he had more power than the Emperor himself.

Bismarck's rule: 1871-1890

Bismarck's own political views heavily influenced his policies. Bismarck had a harsh authoritarian sense about him, with this many times through his rule will he stir up problems with the peoples of his nation. Within the 1870’s is a struggle between the Chancellor and the social group of southern Catholics. This political fighting earns its own name, the Kulturkampf, or the culture battle. Bismarck wishes to remove or lessen the political power of the Church. Bismarck lays out many laws that pull at the Churches power, such as the May Laws that hand over the responsibility of teaching and appointing clergy to the State rather than the church, as it had always been.

Toward the end of the 1870’s Bismarck turns his sights from the Church to the newly founded and rising group of Social Democrats, which was founded in 1875. Only two years after its founding eleven new members join the nearly 400 in the Reichstag, all eleven of them belonging to the Social Democratic party. In 1878 there are assassination attempts made on the Emperor and Bismarck uses this as an excuse to dissolve the parliament and call for new elections. With the Reichstag reshuffled and Social Democrat’s members removed Bismarck outlaws the group’s actions, deeming them pro-revolutionary. This would not last long as the Iron Chancellor’s rule would soon come to an end.

With his domestic policies laid out Bismarck turns to foreign affairs. Moving to compete with Britain in terms of oversea colonies. Germany expands into Africa in 1885, forming German East Africa, encompassing what is now today’s  Tanzania, Rwanda, Mozambique, Kenya, and Burundi. Germany’s new colonies would remain with it well after Bismarck’s reign until Germany’s defeat in World War I.

 

Soon the Crown of the Empire changes hands, in 1888 William I dies, his son Frederick III takes up the throne, but soon dies of cancer within one hundred days and placing his son, Wilhelm II in power. Wilhelm is seen as an ineffective and sometimes destructive leader. Wilhelm’s views clashed with Bismarck’s too much and he quickly sent him off, forcing the reluctant Chancellor to retire from his position in 1890, two years after Wilhelm’s crowning.

A slow descent 1890-1914

With Bismarck’s removal the political gears of Germany grinded to a halt for a time, there was a separation in parliament. With Bismarck’s removal the Social Democrats are once again allowed to return and partake in German politics, which is quite alarming for ruling monarchs of Germany. The Social Democrats have developed a less radical viewpoint, making change through political points rather than revolutionary ones like those that Bismarck used against them to deem them unfit for politics. By 1912 the Democrats are Germany’s strongest party. But practically every member of the Reichstag is powerless, made so by Bismarck’s old policies. The power of direct taxation belonged solely to the state Parliaments, and the Reichstag was only allowed to carry out taxation of consumer goods.

Power is taken away from the parliament and given to the Emperor himself and his military advisers, as Bismarck’s firmly placed policies saw to it that their power remained with them, locked in place. Those who hold the power now are firm believers in Prussian tradition and will happily hold onto the power derived from the parliaments, holding no democratic beliefs.

With his new found power Wilhelm II is struck with a dilemma, would he remain peaceful in this hostile Europe, or would he make an effort to show of the power of his Great Empire. Many political reasons would drive for war, Germany was among many strong nations on a practically level playing field, its peoples would grow to fear the other powers of Europe, Russia, France, and Britain. Germany cannot compete with all three of these Nation’s Empires and all of their navies easily well matched. The alliances between the other world players was getting away from Germany, unable to be controlled by the 1890s.

To combat the secret alliances, one of Bismarck’s last political doings is the forming of the Triple Alliance, an alliance of Germany’s own, between Austria-Hungary, Italy, and itself. Russia had once been a part of this alliance but was cut free as the new Kaiser could see a relationship between Austria and Russia could not be upheld and he unlike Bismarck did not take as much care with Germany’s powerful neighbors.. With this done Russia turns to France and an alliance is formed after secret negotiations by 1894. In the following ten years, oddly enough Britain begins negotiations with France, forming a powerful alliance in 1904 named the Triple Entente.

World War I 1914-1919

Austria’s Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated on June 28th of 1914, which launched Austria into war with Serbia, drawing Russia into the fight. A chain reaction occurs and Germany declares on Russia, then Germany is declared upon and soon both powerful alliances are drawn into war by these two dying Empires. By 1916 the nation’s policies are out of Wilhelm’s hands and into those of two of his generals,  Paul von Hindenburg and Erich Ludendorff. The World War itself its own subject, but it does lead to the eventual loss of Germany.

 

The End of the 2nd Reich 1919

With its loss in World War I Germany is forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles by , placing the blame of the war on its people and placing a war debt on Germany of roughly 132 billion Marks. The Weimar Republic was formed in 1919 after the German Revolution, to replace the ancient Prussian monarchy and put in place a democracy. The German people began to develop a more Democratic outlook and sought to end the long war. Germany’s Allies were knocked out of the war and the people pressed harder and harder for change, with the pressure on the Western front the once great Empire could not handle anymore and it gave in, dropping the war. Thusly the Weimar Republic was made.

Germany was no longer an empire at this point and it was safe to say the Second Reich had ended, and though it was over it had played a pivotal part in not only Germany’s history, but that of Europe, and perhaps even the World too. The last few years of Germany’s 2nd Reich and the ending of World War I may have played a crucial role in the ignition of World War II.

 

 

 

With that out of the way, I need a topic now between the end of WWI to the 1980's... and it can't be super outlandish either. 

 

So help a brother out and give me some ideas?

[Pinsir99 526]

Westernization of Eastern European Nations after and during WWII.

 

Is that a thing? I dunno.

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

Korea

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

Korea

[Devland99 180]

Korea

[Dr. Ducky-D 277]

Korea

 

 

Korea

 

 

Korea

What about it?

[Lathros 377]

I find a distinct lack of Italy. . .

 

MOAR ITALY

[yopplwasupxxx 5946]

communism comrade

[TheRoyalOnion(Aris) 101]

Could you tell me about the 

 

Wendish Empire?

 

Because I know nothing about it.

[Samson Option 9652]

If you really want to jump into a pool of controversy, research the Sykes-Picot Agreement.

 

Other than that.

 

1. Marcos' reign in the Philipines

2. The United States clandestine machinations in South America

3. The question of Palestine

[racingbrother 226]

The explosion of Western culture after WWII

[bickando 3967]

Great Depression is good. I think it's a good choice.

You can go on

and on

and on

about the Great Depression and its effects.

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

Oh, do Imperial Japan at end of WWI

[aron. 427]

5. How World War I caused World War II

[Dr. Ducky-D 277]

 

 

I think this is a bit short of a topic... this does need to be a whole quarter's worth.