Melissa

** Within the period 1815–1848, Prussia extended an indispensable influence over the surrounding German states. The most significant aspects which resulted in this dominant influence were economic factors. However, this influence was also the repercussion of a number of subsidiary factors consisting of social factors, political factors and the forces for change ‘nationalism’ and ‘liberalism’. The combination of these primary and subsidiary factors evidently explains and exemplifies the rationale behind the dominant influence extended by Prussia in the 19th century. The most significant group of factors that resulted in Prussia extending her influence were the economic aspects and events that transpired. German economic development initiated in 1835 with the construction of new methods of transportation, including the first railway line. The introduction of these innovative systems resulted in a significant increase in trade between nations. Thus with the concept of trade in mind, economic development boomed and the network of railways began to rapidly develop. According to “Economic Development” in ‘The Modern World, Conflict and Change’, by 1840 there were 450 kilometres of railroads. The rapid increase in trade hence significantly impacted the numerous governments of the period, as they each sought to benefit their nation and therefore pocket the largest amount of profit possible. In Prussia, this questionable notion generated the introduction of customs and tariffs. Customs and tariffs were seen as fundamental taxes that considerably raised the prices on imported goods and services. They were implemented with the purpose of not only protecting Prussia’s industry, but preventing a new economy developing within its borders. According to the secondary source ‘The Modern World, Conflict and Change’, “in the Germanic Confederation there were 38 different custom boundaries… Within Prussia herself there were 67 different tariff areas”. The once imperative idea of customs and tariffs soon resulted in an abrupt reduction in trade. This was a direct repercussion of the new expensive nature of all imported goods and services. With the negative impact and ramifications of customs and tariffs, Prussia saw a new window of opportunity and influence. Still wanting to benefit from trade, she subsequently introduced the Zollverein on 1st January 1834. The Zollverein, covering a population of 24 million people, had a considerable influence on all, as it reduced the customs and tariffs placed on all imported goods and services. Thus, Prussia was granted power over the numerous German states, as this reduction of tariffs resulted in the fundamental increased process of trade. Consequently, economic development rapidly increased in Prussia with the window of trade now open and efficient. Watching closely, numerous German states saw the great efficiency behind this reduction and hence established that it was fundamental to follow suit. A direct result of Prussia’s actions, the numerous German states soon saw the benefits and positive aspects of trading and subsequently lowered their customs and tariffs in the same manner as Prussia. Therefore, economic factors were the most significant aspects that resulted in Prussia extending her influence in the 19th century. This is due to the large amount of influence that Prussia extended as a consequence of economic development. Through the raising of customs and tariffs and the introduction of the Zollverein, it is fundamental to comprehend the number of the German states that followed suit. This inturn supports the imperative significance of the role that economic factors played in the extension of Prussia’s influence. Although economic factors were the most significant aspects, subsidiary social factors still contributed to this ultimate influence of Prussia. This includes Prussia’s flexibility and openness to modernisation and the introduction of “the sovereignty of the people”. However, the most important of the social factors was the decline of Austria’s influence, leading to the increased reliance on Prussia from the other German states. Of furthermore importance was the consequence of this factor, resulting in pressure being placed among the smaller states to join the dominant force. As a result of the significant economic aspects of the time, Austria’s influence over the German states began to decline in comparison to Prussia’s influences. Although Austria and Prussia began the 19th century as two powers who each dominated, this soon began to change. This was a result of the formation and introduction of the Zollverein in 1834. With Prussia’s influence extending rapidly as a consequence of the Zollverein and new opportunities to trade, Prussia gained power. This power ultimately meant that the other German states would be looking up and relying on Prussia to a greater extent than before. Consequently, Prussia’s power would grow and thus, the smaller German states began to feel an overwhelming pressure to join and conform to this dominant force. Therefore, Prussia’s extending influence was also the result of less significant social factors. The growing power of Prussia and subsequent pressure placed on the various German states each combined to contribute to Prussia’s ultimate influence of the 19th century. Also of less significance than economic factors, however still contributing to the influence of Prussia in the 19th century were the political factors of the time. This again includes the rapid decline of Austria’s influence and the succeeding pressure placed on the smaller states to join Prussia’s domineering force. However, the most significant of the political factors of the period was the strength of the Prussian leaders in comparison to the weaker Austrian leaders. According to the secondary sources of “Austria” and “Prussia” in ‘The Modern World, Conflict and Change’, Austria began as a dominant, autocratic power that was resistant to change and modernisation of all forms. In contrast, Prussia was open to industrialisation, modernisation and change. Thus, once Prussia introduced factors such as the Zollverein which in turn helped extend her economic influence, the strength of Prussia was established in comparison to all other states. The Zollverein was seen as a crucial factor in regards to the political unification of Germany, hence highlighting the significance of the economic factors on Prussia’s influence. As a result of the Zollverein and economic development, German states began to look up to and become gradually more dependent on Prussia more than before. Thus, there was a reinforcement of the power the leaders of Prussia held, with the states beginning to rely on the country to a large extent. This therefore led to the decline of the strength of Austria’s leaders as a result of Prussia’s domination and increasing influence. Therefore, Prussia’s extending influence was also the result of subsidiary political factors of the time. These political factors, mainly consisting of the strength of Prussia’s leaders in comparison to Austria’s leaders is what gave Prussia the motivation and opportunity to extend her influence over the smaller German states in the 19th century. The last subsidiary factors, less significant than economic factors, however still contributing to the ultimate influence of Prussia of the time were the forces for change ‘nationalism’ and ‘liberalism’. This includes the failure of liberalism and the growing awareness of the concept of nationalism. Liberalism, the viewpoint promoting the freedom and independence of an individual, became a prominent philosophy after the Congress of Vienna. Many individuals began to seek reform and wanted the right to decide how the country was ruled. According to ‘The Modern World, Conflict and Change”, more rights deemed necessary were “freedom of speech”, “freedom of press”, “freedom of religion” and “equality of rights before the law”. The liberals who held strong beliefs in the formation of these rights began to fight for their beliefs. These strong beliefs of individuals subsequently crossed over to the revolutions of 1848.  Nationalism, the concept of promoting the beliefs of your own nation above all others, was also emerging at this time. Intertwined with the idea of the “sovereignty of the people”, the belief was created that people’s first priority was their nation, rather than their ruler. Hence, political power could perhaps be given to the people, rather than the Kings. This attitude, stemmed from nationalistic beliefs, developed rapidly as many fought for a democratic, unified country. Therefore, these two factors of liberalism and nationalism intertwined and combined to give Prussia the opportunity to extend her influence, due to the force and power for change each concept allowed. Hence, due to Prussia’s openness for change, these concepts allowed her to attempt to broaden her mounting influence. In conclusion, there were a number of prominent and subsidiary factors that combined in order to allow Prussia to extend her influence over the surrounding German states. The most significant aspects which resulted in this central influence were the economic factors. However, the influence was additionally the ramification of a number of subsidiary factors, including social, political and the dominant forces for change ‘nationalism’ and ‘liberalism’. It was each of these individual factors that collectively combined to motivate and allow Prussia’s influence to extend in the 19th century.
 * Explain how Prussia extended her influence over the German states during the period 1815-1848.

//Melissa, your essay was very insightful and flowed very well :) you answered the question very clearly in your introduction through the first and second sentences. most your concluding sentences of each paragraph linked back to your first thesis that economics was the most important factor in how prussia extended her influence over the German states, but some (like all the ones in my essay) didnt link back to that point. they only stated that, that factor was another contributor of how Prussia extended her influence. you had a very stron use of cause and effect words and statements which linked your ideas together and theus helped with the great flow you achieved. you used them all in the right context aswell. you had a good use of evidence to back up ideas and statements you made throughout. the only bit i didnt really understand, but it might of helped if there was a quote of statement from a historian as evidence, is the bit i highlighted in yellow. i didnt quite understand the point you were trying to get across. (but maybe im just sped :) ) the only other constructive critisism i can give is you maybe could have put the opinion of a historian somewhere to persaude the reader more, other than that i really enjoyed reading everything you know on the subject! which, if i may say so, is heaps! :) // //jess//

This was a very well written essay. You answered the question succintly in your introduction, and outlined the reasons to later be discussed, in order to support your main argument. You effectively evaluated the extent to which each factor contributed to Prussia's extending influence, which was also very good. So overall, your introduction successfully restated the question, outlined your main argument and reasons to support this theory. You substantiated your argument with a number of relevant and accurate names, dates and places, which effectively displayed your firm grasp of historical detail. You also explained really well, and were cautious to use language of cause and effect. It was distributed throughout your essay to ensure that you weren't simply describing. This was beneficial in answering the question, in which the task was to "explain". Your strengths are clearly recalling historical detail, and using sophisticated language. Your vocabulary was advantageous in formulating your argument in a descriptive manner, which was also really good. I think that perhaps your essay's only weakness was that you provided too much detail, and repeated some statements occasionally. I think it is really important to select perhaps the most significant and relevant information which will assist in justifying your argument. Next time, I would write more succinct and shorter paragraphs to explicitly communicate your argument. Also, if you do this, the stucture of each paragraph will become more evident and easily legible. For your concluding or summarising sentence (which refers back to your main argument) I think you should include this with the rest of the information, rather than separating it into a new paragraph. This will again make your essay easier to understand and digest for the responder. So overall, it was really well written and your content is excellent, just some improvement to the manner in which you write it, and it should be even better. =)

Melissa, I loved your essay in how you were able to manipulate each piece of evidence therefore allowing it to back up the other factors of how Prussia influenced her power over German states 1815-1848. This was cleverly done as it allowed for your other factors to demonstrate there full extent of how they influenced and always allowing it to link back to economics-showing it played a larger affect above all. Your language of cause and affect must be acknowledged as you were cautious of the use of it but was successfully used probably. The only criticism I have is that repetition can be seen in some cases and the development of your context can be further extended to avoid the repetition to an extent otherwise great job, good choice of words and I liked how you defined nationalism and liberalism before going into how they influenced. Ireney =]