題目 1 · source-comparison
15 分Read the two sources below carefully, and then answer the question:
**Source A**
From a confidential report by Count von Werthern, a Prussian diplomat in Vienna, to the Prussian Prime Minister, Otto von Bismarck, January 1866.
"It is increasingly evident that the cabinet in Vienna is seeking a confrontation. Despite our sincere efforts to maintain the Gastein Convention, Austria continues to encourage agitation in Holstein in favor of the Duke of Augustenburg. This is a direct breach of our joint understanding. Our military preparations are purely precautionary, designed to safeguard Prussian security against an Austrian court that refuses to recognize Prussia's rightful influence in the northern German lands. If war comes, the responsibility will lie entirely with Austria's stubborn insistence on maintaining an artificial hegemony that no longer reflects the true balance of power."
**Source B**
From a speech by Baron von Beust, a leading Saxon statesman and ally of Austria, to the Saxon Parliament, April 1866.
"We are witnessing a systematic attempt by Berlin to subvert the treaties that have preserved peace in Germany for fifty years. Prussia's aggressive demands for reform of the Federal Diet are a thin veil for her desire to annex the Elbe Duchies and dominate her smaller neighbors. Austria has consistently acted in defense of federal law and the rights of the secondary states. The mobilization of Prussian forces along our borders is not defensive; it is an act of blatant provocation designed to coerce Austria into submission. Germany must stand united against this unilateral bid for Prussian supremacy."
**Question:**
Compare and contrast the views expressed in Source A and Source B regarding the causes of tension between Austria and Prussia in 1866.
**Source A**
From a confidential report by Count von Werthern, a Prussian diplomat in Vienna, to the Prussian Prime Minister, Otto von Bismarck, January 1866.
"It is increasingly evident that the cabinet in Vienna is seeking a confrontation. Despite our sincere efforts to maintain the Gastein Convention, Austria continues to encourage agitation in Holstein in favor of the Duke of Augustenburg. This is a direct breach of our joint understanding. Our military preparations are purely precautionary, designed to safeguard Prussian security against an Austrian court that refuses to recognize Prussia's rightful influence in the northern German lands. If war comes, the responsibility will lie entirely with Austria's stubborn insistence on maintaining an artificial hegemony that no longer reflects the true balance of power."
**Source B**
From a speech by Baron von Beust, a leading Saxon statesman and ally of Austria, to the Saxon Parliament, April 1866.
"We are witnessing a systematic attempt by Berlin to subvert the treaties that have preserved peace in Germany for fifty years. Prussia's aggressive demands for reform of the Federal Diet are a thin veil for her desire to annex the Elbe Duchies and dominate her smaller neighbors. Austria has consistently acted in defense of federal law and the rights of the secondary states. The mobilization of Prussian forces along our borders is not defensive; it is an act of blatant provocation designed to coerce Austria into submission. Germany must stand united against this unilateral bid for Prussian supremacy."
**Question:**
Compare and contrast the views expressed in Source A and Source B regarding the causes of tension between Austria and Prussia in 1866.
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解題
### Analysis of Similarities:
* **The Core Issues:** Both sources agree that the control and future of the Elbe Duchies (Holstein/Schleswig) are central to the current diplomatic crisis. Source A mentions "agitation in Holstein" and the "Gastein Convention," while Source B mentions Prussia's desire to "annex the Elbe Duchies."
* **The Broader German Balance of Power:** Both sources recognize that the conflict is about hegemony within Germany. Source A references the "true balance of power" and Prussia's "influence in the northern German lands," while Source B references "Prussian supremacy" and the subversion of "peace in Germany."
* **Self-Justification of Motives:** Both sides present their respective camps as defenders of agreements and law. Source A claims Prussia is maintaining the "Gastein Convention," while Source B claims Austria acts in "defense of federal law."
### Analysis of Differences:
* **Responsibility for Tension:** Source A places the blame entirely on Austria's "stubborn insistence" on hegemony and its encouragement of agitation in Holstein. Source B, however, places the blame squarely on Prussia, accusing it of a "systematic attempt... to subvert the treaties" and dominate smaller states.
* **Interpretation of Military Mobilization:** Source A describes Prussian military actions as "purely precautionary" and defensive. Source B counters this directly, stating mobilization is "not defensive" but rather an "act of blatant provocation" designed to coerce Austria.
* **Role of Secondary German States:** Source A views the agitation for the Duke of Augustenburg in Holstein as Austrian-backed trouble-making. Source B views the defense of local rights and secondary states as a legitimate legal duty led by Austria against Prussian annexation plans.
### Contextual Evaluation (Provenance and Purpose):
* **Source A** is a *confidential* diplomatic report written by a Prussian official directly to Bismarck. Its purpose is to brief the leadership, but it also reflects the official Prussian narrative that Austria is the revisionist power breaking the Gastein agreement. The confidential nature suggests that Prussian leadership genuine viewed Austrian actions as threatening, or was actively constructing a casus belli that framed Prussia as the injured party to justify the war that Bismarck was planning.
* **Source B** is a public speech by a politician from Saxony, a medium-sized German state historically wary of Prussian expansion. Addressed to the Saxon Parliament, its purpose is to rally political and public support for Austria against Prussia. This explains the highly charged language ("blatant provocation," "Prussian supremacy") and the emphasis on defending the rights of "secondary states" like Saxony itself, which feared being swallowed up by a Prussian-led unification.
* **The Core Issues:** Both sources agree that the control and future of the Elbe Duchies (Holstein/Schleswig) are central to the current diplomatic crisis. Source A mentions "agitation in Holstein" and the "Gastein Convention," while Source B mentions Prussia's desire to "annex the Elbe Duchies."
* **The Broader German Balance of Power:** Both sources recognize that the conflict is about hegemony within Germany. Source A references the "true balance of power" and Prussia's "influence in the northern German lands," while Source B references "Prussian supremacy" and the subversion of "peace in Germany."
* **Self-Justification of Motives:** Both sides present their respective camps as defenders of agreements and law. Source A claims Prussia is maintaining the "Gastein Convention," while Source B claims Austria acts in "defense of federal law."
### Analysis of Differences:
* **Responsibility for Tension:** Source A places the blame entirely on Austria's "stubborn insistence" on hegemony and its encouragement of agitation in Holstein. Source B, however, places the blame squarely on Prussia, accusing it of a "systematic attempt... to subvert the treaties" and dominate smaller states.
* **Interpretation of Military Mobilization:** Source A describes Prussian military actions as "purely precautionary" and defensive. Source B counters this directly, stating mobilization is "not defensive" but rather an "act of blatant provocation" designed to coerce Austria.
* **Role of Secondary German States:** Source A views the agitation for the Duke of Augustenburg in Holstein as Austrian-backed trouble-making. Source B views the defense of local rights and secondary states as a legitimate legal duty led by Austria against Prussian annexation plans.
### Contextual Evaluation (Provenance and Purpose):
* **Source A** is a *confidential* diplomatic report written by a Prussian official directly to Bismarck. Its purpose is to brief the leadership, but it also reflects the official Prussian narrative that Austria is the revisionist power breaking the Gastein agreement. The confidential nature suggests that Prussian leadership genuine viewed Austrian actions as threatening, or was actively constructing a casus belli that framed Prussia as the injured party to justify the war that Bismarck was planning.
* **Source B** is a public speech by a politician from Saxony, a medium-sized German state historically wary of Prussian expansion. Addressed to the Saxon Parliament, its purpose is to rally political and public support for Austria against Prussia. This explains the highly charged language ("blatant provocation," "Prussian supremacy") and the emphasis on defending the rights of "secondary states" like Saxony itself, which feared being swallowed up by a Prussian-led unification.
評分準則
### Level-Based Marking Scheme (15 Marks Total)
* **Level 4 (12–15 marks):** Identifies clear similarities and differences between the two sources AND evaluates them using historical context, provenance, or purpose to explain *why* these differences exist.
* *To reach the top of this level, candidates must offer a sustained comparison and show how the context of the Austro-Prussian rivalry of 1866 explains the opposing viewpoints of a Prussian diplomat (Source A) and an Austrian-allied Saxon statesman (Source B).*
* **Level 3 (8–11 marks):** Identifies both similarities and differences between the two sources, but the comparison remains largely at face value without effective evaluation of the sources' reliability, utility, or context.
* *Maximum of 11 marks if the candidate evaluates but only identifies similarities OR differences.*
* **Level 2 (4–7 marks):** Identifies either similarities or differences. The answer may be one-sided or fail to directly compare the texts point-by-point, instead summarizing each source sequentially.
* **Level 1 (1–3 marks):** Writes about the topic or the sources but fails to make a valid, direct comparison between the views expressed. May include inaccuracies or simple paraphrasing of the extracts.
* **Level 4 (12–15 marks):** Identifies clear similarities and differences between the two sources AND evaluates them using historical context, provenance, or purpose to explain *why* these differences exist.
* *To reach the top of this level, candidates must offer a sustained comparison and show how the context of the Austro-Prussian rivalry of 1866 explains the opposing viewpoints of a Prussian diplomat (Source A) and an Austrian-allied Saxon statesman (Source B).*
* **Level 3 (8–11 marks):** Identifies both similarities and differences between the two sources, but the comparison remains largely at face value without effective evaluation of the sources' reliability, utility, or context.
* *Maximum of 11 marks if the candidate evaluates but only identifies similarities OR differences.*
* **Level 2 (4–7 marks):** Identifies either similarities or differences. The answer may be one-sided or fail to directly compare the texts point-by-point, instead summarizing each source sequentially.
* **Level 1 (1–3 marks):** Writes about the topic or the sources but fails to make a valid, direct comparison between the views expressed. May include inaccuracies or simple paraphrasing of the extracts.