1851: The year of peace and prosperity
The Republic of Germany could have certainly used some peace and quiet, and 1851 promised to deliver just that. The government invested £260,000 in factories all over Germany: Bohemia, Franconia, Hessen, Lombardy, Venice, and Austria all saw factory upgrades financed. The new Foreign Minister, Hugo Unger, saw his Middle Eastern tour pay off, and his triumphant return to Brittany convinced a lot of the most important politicians there that Germany could be a valuable bulwark against French aggression.
Farther east, however, the world looked quite different, as three Asian countries saw turmoil and upheaval.
The collapse in Ak Koyunlu, in particular, reverberated throughout the world, and by July 1851, a group of Kurdish nationalist began seeking independence from them. [1] The people of Germany, however, were not eager to engage with foreign powers. They preferred to see the German portions of Croatia become more developed, as one example of more successful government intervention.
All of these successes were largely attributed to Chancellor Otto von Bismarck. With the constitutional crisis behind him, he focused his energies on building consensus for his policies. He was hailed as a “quiet genius” by those around him. [2]
The United Kingdom and France finally ended their longstanding feud, with the British surrendering portions of their colonies in Canada, Africa, and even the city of Novgorod to Norway, thanks to French intervention. Humiliated and beaten, the British turned to Poland as a counterbalance to France. If another war were to come, they would not be defeated so easily.
Only one spot of trouble flared up in Germany while France and the British Empire settled their differences. A committee, attempting to seek an end (or at least a reduction) to child labor was met with nothing less than derision by a session of the Conclave. Michael von Hohenzollern, most noticeably, proclaimed that he had worked since the age of 10 and that he had never regretted it once (conveniently forgetting that his actual job at the age of 10 was a ceremonial Colonel of one of the army regiments).
Interior Minister von Altmark used the gendarmerie, as he had the year before, to restore order via a public display of pride and power.
Yet the Interior Minister had some issues with the government. His bid for power had not been backed by his own party, and he was increasingly frustrated that he received no respect from his comrades. Joining with the Economist’s Party of Wilhelm von Habsburg, the two men hoped to change the balance of power. The new party, if enough signatures could be found, would serve as the logical fusion of the ideas of the Alliance and the New Society; a party dedicated to the peaceful expansion of German might through government and industry. They were joined by an Assemblyman of the UAI, Friedrich von Hohenstaufen, a newcomer in politics. If one more individual joined their new party in time, they could be registered for the 1853 elections. Hohenstaufen gained recognition, along with Fritz von Hohenzollern and a few other prudent investors, with the formation of the Hapag in April of 1851.
All of Germany, it might be said, was rich. The government raked in huge amounts of cash, yet the people still prospered individually. The middle class, in particular, benefited from the tax policy of Minister Fellman’s economic policy.
Order, more than anything else, was the watchword in Germany. People were happy and content, a good sign for the elections of 1853. But there were still many months to go before then. Would the new Economist Party get the support needed to challenge the New Society’s power? Would the coalition with the Alliance crumble? What of the suspiciously quiet Imperialists? Were they up to something?
The German Republic did not lack for intrigue, if perhaps it lacked for excitement.
[1] A crisis triggered in Central Asia. Based on EtzelHoveri’s policies, I declined to get involved, and I’m nearly certain it will fizzle. I do hope we get some stuff in Europe soon with the British/French wars over.
[2] I almost spit out my beverage at this one. Bismarck a genius? Maybe. Quiet? Not so much.
A dull update, I know. Hopefully we get some excitement in the next one!