The unification of Germany, c1840–71 - 1 Popular pressure and causes of…

The idea

In the 1840s the German states were economically divided: Prussia and western regions were more industrial and commercially advanced, while eastern agrarian areas remained poorer. Prussia dominated economically through its coal and iron resources, its growing industry and its leadership of the Zollverein, the customs union that reduced internal tariffs. Railway building expanded rapidly, linking markets, lowering transport costs and stimulating coal, iron and engineering. The Zollverein and railways together encouraged trade and industrial growth, but Austria remained outside the Zollverein. Urbanisation and industrialisation created a larger industrial working class and a wealthier middle class, while artisans and peasants faced insecurity. These economic and social changes increased popular pressure and contributed to the causes of revolution by 1848.

What earns the marks

• Explains economic divisions between the more industrialised Prussian and western states and the agrarian eastern regions.
• Explains Prussia's economic dominance through resources, industry and its leading role in the Zollverein.
• Explains the significance of railway building in integrating markets, lowering transport costs and stimulating coal, iron and engineering.
• Explains the Zollverein as a customs union that reduced internal tariffs and promoted trade, while noting Austria's exclusion.
• Explains the impact of urbanisation and industrialisation on social classes, including the growth of the industrial working class and middle class, and insecurity among artisans and peasants.
• Analyses how these economic and social developments contributed to popular pressure and the causes of revolution by 1848.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing the Zollverein with a political union.

  Put it right by describing it as a customs union for trade and tariffs.

• Assuming all German states industrialised evenly.

  Put it right by explaining regional economic divisions between industrial and agrarian areas.

• Treating railway building as only a transport change.

  Put it right by explaining its wider economic effects on markets, coal, iron and engineering.

Exam tips

• Use precise examples such as the Zollverein, railway expansion and Prussian coal and iron resources to support economic arguments.
• Connect economic change to social consequences, such as the growth of the working and middle classes and hardship among artisans.
• When explaining causes of revolution, show how economic and social pressures interacted with political discontent.