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Chapter 9 – Age of Bismarck. Explain the significance of the creation of the new German state in 1871.
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Explain the significance of the creation of the new German state in 1871. • The creation of the new German state made Germany the dominant state in Europe at the time. After definitively defeating the French, nationalism was everywhere among German people. They strongly supported Kaiser Wilhelm I. For Bismarck, this support allowed him to build his army and to create a strong new state. For decades to come, Germany would be dominant in European affairs.
What was the Three Emperors League? What was it’s rationale? • The Three Emperors League was an alliance between Austria-Hungary, Russia, and Germany that pledged that each member would not interfere in each other’s spheres of influence.
Why was it critical that Germany remain at peace for a period of time after the wars of unification? What did Bismarck do to maintain peace? • Peace was critical to Germany after the wars of unification because conflict with any two continental powers would be disastrous to Germany, particularly as many Germans still had their allegiance with traditional rulers rather than the Kaiser. Bismarck felt he had to make an alliance with at least two powers. With Britain and France subject to democratic pressures, Bismarck felt they were too unstable in their foreign policies. This left Russia and Austria-Hungary. Bismarck created the Three Emperors League to maintain peace during this time.
Of what significance was the Balkan region to Russia? To Austria-Hungary? • Russia and Austria-Hungary had overlapping interests in the Balkans. The Austrians could not tolerate Russian intervention in this area and the Russians saw control of this area as vital to the control of the Straits and their economic outlet to the Mediterranean.
Name and describe the policies of the four main political parties in the German Reichstag. • Liberals - free trade, increased parliamentary power. • Conservatives - protective tariff to meet demands of industrialists and agrarians, increase in taxes to renew army budget • Socialists - opposed a protective tariff as it might cause prices of consumer goods to rise, advocates for rights of the working class • Catholic Centre Party - -considered themselves nationalists and patriots, Bismarck linked this party with the Pope and many of his extreme policies at the time
Describe Bismarck’s attempts to restrict the catholic minority in Germany. Evaluate the morality and effectiveness of these attempts. • Firstly, Bismarck stated that Germany was a Protestant nation. Bismarck felt surrounded by two Catholic and one Orthodox state and wanted to make sure that Catholicism did not grow in his own. Bismarck branded all Catholics traitors, including members and representatives of the Catholic Centre Party. Catholics lost their jobs, were not allowed into universities and the Catholic education system was dismantled. Priests had to acquire licenses and were forced to take classes in history and philosophy.
Civil ceremonies were introduced and the holdings of the Jesuit Order were abolished. Obviously, this was not a very moral way to deal with the problem and Bismarck took advantage of his position to discriminate against a group that he had a personal problem with. The Kaiser and his wife had no problem with Catholics and so it is obvious that these actions were pursued and enforced by Bismarck alone. These measures did not rid Germany of the Catholic Centre Party. Actually, Catholics were frustrated with the policies and in the next election, the Party doubled its number of seats.
Outline the features of Bismarck’s domestic policy in the 1870s. Bismarck drafted a constitution in 1871. Berlin became the capital of Germany and Wilhelm, King of Prussia, became Kaiser of Germany. Bismarck was appointed chancellor, and he managed the federal government. The government was made up of the appointed upper house, the Bundesrat, and the elected lower house, the Reichstag.
There were 25 states within the federation and they held many important powers. The hereditary rulers of the small states appointed representatives to the Bundesrat and this house had the power to veto legislation from the Reichstag. Bismarck counted on strong foreign policy to instill nationalism among representatives elected into the Reichstag.
The lower house controlled part of the federal budget and all federal legislation. Bismarck arranged that military budget should be looked at every seven years and introduced legislation which discriminated against Catholics in an attempt the rid the Reichstag of the Catholic Centre Party.
Explain how Bismarck manipulated news of assassination attempts on the kaiser to give him a Reichstag firmly committed to his policies. Bismarck spread the myth that the Socialists were responsible for the assassination attempts on the kaiser. The press also promoted this idea in an attempt to discredit Socialists.
The general population reacted as Bismarck intended and only those representatives who swore to protect the kaiser were re-elected. This proved to representatives how influential Bismarck could be. If he wanted the press to criticize a particular group, the results could be significant
Name and explain three pieces of welfare legislation passed in Germany in the 1880s. Why did Bismarck promote such extensive social policy? To rid the state of socialists, he implemented a program of State Socialism. He introduced welfare initiatives aimed at workers. He hoped that workers would no longer need unions and opposition parties and that eventually, they would cease to exist. The plan also included a national health insurance plan, a national accident on the job insurance plan and a social security plan that provided pensions.
Explain the threat of war in 1875. What was the significance of this threat to France? To Germany? The Balkans erupted in 1875 in insurrection against the Ottoman Empire. Both Russia and Austria-Hungary were sensitive to this situation; A-H was worried that the rebellion would spread. This situation threatened the stability of Europe. This was significance for France as the conflict might cause the end of the Three Emperors’ League. This would end France’s isolation in Europe and might mean that France would have the opportunity to ally with another power. The insurrection in the Balkans was significant for Germany as it might cause the dissolution of the Three Emperors’ League. It would force Germany to choose an ally, either Russia or Austria-Hungary. By choosing an ally, they would make an enemy.
Explain how Bismarck’s Alliance system with Austria-Hungary and Italy was forged. Why did Bismarck consider this alliance system essential to Germany’s security? Bismarck believed that the only way to maintain peace in Europe was to create a number of overlapping alliances. He began with the Dual Alliance in 1879 between Germany and Austria-Hungary. The treaty stated that both powers were to assist the other if attacked by another power. This alliance system was important in keeping Germany and Europe out of war.
Why did Bismarck embark on a program of imperialism? Evaluate Germany’s attempts to create a colonial empire. Bismarck attempted to create a colonial empire for domestic reasons. The kaiser and his wife admired the British ideas of popular sovereignty and parliamentary rule. Bismarck did not agree. In order to create hostility among Germans for the British, Bismarck provoked an incident over British colonial possessions. Germany’s attempts to create a colonial empire were late and without a real desire. By the time Germany became involved, most of the colonization had already taken place. Also, Germany (Bismarck) pursued colonization half-heartedly. Germanys colonial empire never amounted to much.
Bismarck brought two major issues before the Reichstag. Military funding – Moltke wanted a permanent army 1% the size of the population. Bismarck agreed but forced budget reviews every 7 years so he could maintain control.
Kulturkampf – The repression of Catholics engineered by Bismarck to gain control of the Reichstag and to counter the influence of the Pope especially after the QuantamCura, or the proclamation of Papal infallibility. Despite the fact that the Catholic Centre Party was not under the control of the Pope and were fiercely loyal to the Kaiser, Bismarck accused them of treason.
Kulturekampf • Kulturekampf – Framed by Bismarck as a struggle of good versus evil. Anti-Catholic legislation soon followed in May of 1872: • Catholics lost positions in the civil service • Denied entrance into universities • Catholic education system was dismantled • Religion was removed from schools • Priests were required to obtain licenses by taking courses in history and philosophy • Marriages were made civil services • Jesuits were outlawed and the holdings seized. • Despite this in 1874, the Catholic Centre Party doubled its seats.
About Face in the Reichstag Bismarck switched the focus of his attacks from the Catholic Centre Party to the Liberals because they opposed tariffs needed to boost the German economy. Two assassination attempts on the Kaiser were used by Bismarck to rally support against Socialists who he regarded as subversive and as the Red Menace.
State Socialism was introduced to meet the needs of the working classes through the state rather than unions. Welfare was introduced Health and work accident insurance was enacted Pension plan for those over 65
The Congress of Berlin, 1878 In 1875 the Balkans revolted against their Ottoman rulers. This worried Austria Hungary that they would spread into their territories or that Russia would get involved and expand it’s influence in the region 1877 – Russia declared war on The Ottoman Turks
Britain sails a fleet into the Straits in support for the sultan. Austria-Hungary announces intentions to annex Bosnia-Herzegovina Bismarck tried to stay out of it and called the major powers to Berlin for a Congress that could resolve these issues. The Congress ended peacefully but relations between Germany and Russia began to deteriorate.
Bismarck’s Alliance System 1879 – Dual Alliance between Austria-Hungary and Germany signed 1881 – Three Emperor’s League renewed 1887 – Reinsurance Treaty formed between Russia and Germany
Bismarck and Colonies 1884 Germany began interest in acquiring colonies in 1884 for several reasons: creating conflict between the German royal family and Britain to block any interest in parliamentary rule. Creating an outlet for German overproduction, overpopulation, and unemployment
Bismarck sent a diplomatic message to Gladstone through his German embassy in London. He told his ambassador not to deliver it. He then challenged Gladstone as to why he had not replied to his simplemessage. Bismarck used this issue to rally anti-British sentiment in the Reichstag.
However, there few unclaimed places left on the map. • West African coast • East African Coast • Zanzibar • Some Pacific Islands
