Background November Treaties

1 background

1.1 franco-prussian warr
1.2 attitudes in baden, württemberg , hesse
1.3 attitudes in bavaria

background
franco-prussian warr

after austro-prussian war of 1866, north german states had joined north german confederation under leadership of prussia. in 1870, france under napoleon iii declared war on prussia , triggered franco-prussian war. france surprised fact bavaria, württemberg, baden , hesse had joined prussia, although there had been mutual covenants of protection , trusts since 1867.

during war, in prussians won, near-reaching agreement emerged , road founding empire opened. otto von bismarck, chancellor of north german confederation, pressed diplomatic access remaining sovereign states, grand duchy of baden, grand duchy of hesse, kingdom of württemberg , kingdom of bavaria, in sens of lesser german solution. governments differed in unity. therefore needed diplomatic skills maintain sovereignty of southern german states @ same time , anchor unity of constitutional law. in addition, foreign policies attracted suspicion of remaining european powers (russian empire, austria-hungary , united kingdom of great britain , ireland) , had avoided.

attitudes in baden, württemberg , hesse

the grand duchy of baden unconditionally behind unity. grand duke frederick , prime minister julius jolly articulated requests on 3 september 1870. had applied part of north german confederation in 1867 , repeatedly during spring of 1870, north german government rejected bismarck s foreign policy considerations.

the kingdom of württemberg supported greater germany-austria. under influence of württemberg german party, cabinet, governed king charles i, sent envoy german headquarters in france on 12 september, conduct negotiations north german confederation forming association.

the government of grand duchy of hesse supported idea of greater germany, upper hesse region , troops of south hesse belonged north german confederation, meant predicament government under grand duke louis iii. population , successor throne, louis iv, supported lesser german solution. accordingly, government abandoned greater germany idea , entered negotiaions north german confederation.

attitudes in bavaria

the kingdom of bavaria opposed 4 sovereign states of lesser germany. king ludwig ii concerned independence. avoid being isolated, bavaria entered negotiations proposal of new constitutional alliance. constitutional alliance led founding new federation new federal constitution.

bavaria promised maintain independence , integrity of bavaria in letter prussian king. virtue of treaty on 23 november 1870, between north german confederation , kingdom of bavaria, bavaria retained many other so-called reserve rights, such own army, postal system , own state railway, in addition cultural , fiscal sovereignty. in january 1871, bavarian parliament adopted treaty after great resistance, bavarian patriots.

see also: history of bavaria