 Germany |  United States |
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After the Austro-Prussian War the North German Confederation was established in 1866 with the United States recognizing the Confederation in 1867. Formal diplomatic relations were never established. Four years later the Confederation later merged with the German Empire where relations continued.
Following the establishment of the North German Confederation on July 1, 1867, on November 20, 1867, the U.S. Minister to Prussia, George Bancroft, informed Secretary of State William H. Seward that he had attended the opening of the North German Parliament. He requested, however, that the Secretary formally notify him of the intentions of the U.S. Government concerning the question of the recognition of the North German Confederation. On December 9, 1867, Secretary Seward approved of Bancroft's decision to attend the opening of the North German Parliament since he was the officially accredited U.S. Minister to the Prussian King Wilhelm I, who was also the hereditary President of the North German Confederation. Furthermore, Seward informed Bancroft that he would disseminate a description of the Confederation's flag so that its ships would be welcomed in American waters. This exchange between Seward and Bancroft implicitly signified a formal recognition of the North German Confederation by the United States. [1]
The U.S. sent George Bancroft to serve as Minister of the North German Confederation, in addition to Bancroft's 1867 commission as U.S. Minister to Prussia. On February 22, 1868, Bancroft concluded the Naturalization Convention with the North German Union to "regulate the citizenship of those persons who emigrate from the North German Confederation to the United States of America, and from the United States of America to the territory of the North German Confederation." [2]
When the North German Union was abolished by the creation of the German Empire in 1871, the United States recognized the legitimacy of and established diplomatic relations with the German Empire. At this point the North German Union was defunct. [1]
The North German Confederation was initially a German military alliance established in August 1866 under the leadership of the Kingdom of Prussia, which was transformed in the subsequent year into a confederated state that existed from July 1867 to December 1870. A milestone of the German Unification, it was the earliest continual legal predecessor of the modern German nation-state known today as the Federal Republic of Germany.
The Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin was a territory in Northern Germany held by the House of Mecklenburg residing at Schwerin. It was a sovereign member state of the German Confederation and became a federated state of the North German Confederation and finally of the German Empire in 1871.
The North German Confederation Treaty was the treaty between the Kingdom of Prussia and other northern and central German states that initially created the North German Confederation, which was the forerunner to the German Empire. This treaty, and others that followed in September and October, are often described as the August treaties, although not all of them were concluded in August 1866.
The Duchy of Parma and the United States mutually recognized each other in 1850 with formal relations established in 1853. Diplomatic relations ceased in 1860 when the Duchy was incorporated into Kingdom of Sardinia then into the Kingdom of Italy the following year in 1861.
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the United States formally recognized each other in 1794, but never formally established diplomatic relations. Despite this, both countries appointed representatives and established diplomatic offices until 1860 when the Grand Duchy was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy.
Relations between the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies and the United States date back to 1796 when the U.S. was recognized by the Kingdom of Naples. Relations with the Kingdom continued when Naples reunified with the Kingdom of Sicily which founded the Kingdom of Two Sicilies in 1816. Formal relations were not established until 1832. Diplomatic relations ceased in 1861 when Two Sicilies was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy.
The Grand Duchy of Baden and the United States began relations in 1832 going through expansion in 1868 when the Duchy joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.
The Kingdom of Bavaria and the United States began relations in 1833 going through expansion in 1868 when the Duchy joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.
The Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg and the United States began relations in 1848 with mutual recognition but both countries never established formal relations. Relations continued in 1867 when the Duchy joined the North German Confederation. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.
The Kingdom of Hanover and the United States began relations with mutual recognition in 1830 but never formulated diplomatic ties. All ties came to an abrupt halt when Hanover was defeated during the Austro-Prussian War of 1866 and subsequently merged directly into the Kingdom of Prussia. From this point, Hanover had relations with the United States as a part of the Kingdom of Prussia.
The German Empire and the United States established relations in 1848. Relations would eventually be terminated a year later in 1849 when the Empire was dissolved and the German Confederation was re-established.
Relations between the Free Cities of Bremen, Lübeck, and Hamburg and the United States date back to 1790s when Hamburg became the first of the republics to recognized the U.S. on June 17, 1790. Bremen followed suit on March 28, 1794. Diplomatic relations were formally established in October 1853 when the U.S. received Rudolph Schleiden as Minister Resident of the Hanseatic Legation in Washington, D.C. Relations ended in 1868 as the republics would join North German Confederation.
The Grand Duchy of Hesse and the United States began relations in 1829 with mutual recognition going through expansion in 1868 when the Duchy joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.
The Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin and the United States mutually recognized each other in 1816, but formal relations were never established. Relations continued when the Duchy joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.
The Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and the United States mutually recognized each other in 1853, but never formally established diplomatic relations. Relations continued when the Duchy joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.
The Duchy of Nassau and the United States' mutual recognition occurred in 1846 when the two states signed a convention to abolish emigration taxes. During the Austro-Prussian War, the Duchy of Nassau fought on the side of Austria. On the losing side, the Duchy of Nassau was annexed to Prussia on October 3, 1866, ceased to be an independent sovereign state ending relations.
The Grand Duchy of Oldenburg and the United States began mutual recognition in 1829 but never established formal relations. Relations continued when the Duchy joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.
The Principality of Schaumburg-Lippe and the United States mutually recognized each other in 1845, but never formally established diplomatic relations. Relations continued when the Principality joined the North German Confederation in 1867 then joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.
The Kingdom of Württemberg and the United States began relations in 1825 when both countries mutually recognized each other. Relations continued when Württemberg joined the German Empire in 1871. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.
The Kingdom of Prussia and the United States began diplomatic relations in 1785 following the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. But formal relations were not established until 1797. Relations would eventually end with World War I when the U.S. declared war on Germany.
This article incorporates public domain material from "A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: North German Confederation". U.S. Bilateral Relations Fact Sheets . United States Department of State.
