cultural

• KU

  • In opposition to French ideals, artists and writers encouraged a German consciousness through music and literature: Brothers Grimm were written in German; which all 39 states spoke and composers like Beethoven inspired further shared interests and culture in Germany.
  • Public events such as Hambacherfest (a cultural festival) featured speeches and public demonstrations supporting German nationalism.
  • A popular song at the time became the German national anthem which sang about ‘Germany’ rising above all else (Deutschland über alles) and was seen as a plea for leaders to unify Germany.
• ANALYSIS (FOR)

  • Folk tales like Brothers Grimm celebrated Germany's past which was important in inspiring a nationalistic feeling of being German after the Napoleonic Wars.
• ANALYSIS (AGAINST)

  • Historians argue the average peasant had a limited understanding of politics and that current issues did not concern them.
  • Golo Mann says, "seldom looked up from the plough' lessening the growth of German nationalism.
• EVALUATION

  • German language brought people together from different states, giving them an identity throughout German cities which increased support for a politically joined Germany as well.
  • Economic factors were more important: the economic development of the railways ended the isolation between German states, getting a better understanding of the state's similarities than simply being able to speak the same language as dialects varied significantly from each other.