Describe the political ends that List hopes to achieve through economic measures.
Friedrich List hoped to achieve several political ends through economic measures like the zollverein (customs union). His primary aim was to bind the Germans economically into a nation, fostering national unity among the German people.
List believed that economic measures would strengthen the nation materially by protecting its interests externally and stimulating internal productivity. This would help create a unified economic territory allowing unhindered movement of goods, people and capital.
Furthermore, List hoped to awaken and raise national sentiment through a fusion of individual and provincial interests. He believed that a free economic system was the only means to engender national feeling among the German people, thus achieving political unification through economic integration.
Explanation
The answer draws directly from Friedrich List's 1834 statement in the textbook. List clearly articulated that the zollverein's purpose was to bind Germans economically into a nation. The three key political ends are: (1) national unity through economic binding, (2) material strengthening of the nation, and (3) awakening national sentiment by fusing individual and provincial interests. Students should understand that List saw economic integration as a pathway to political unification.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify List's primary political aim - binding Germans into a nation through economic unity
Step 2: Explain how economic measures strengthen the nation materially - external protection and internal productivity
Step 3: Describe how economic fusion awakens national sentiment and engenders national feeling