Bismarck and theUnification of Germany

Unification of GermanySimilarities

between the states would play a part in unification

Language Culture Trade (Zollverein) Geography

Suspicion of FranceNationalistsentiments?

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Rise of liberalism

Unification of Germany

Obstacles to unification

Religious differences The independent authority of princes/kings

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Austria

Otto von Bismarck

• Regarded as the man who unified Germany

• His priority was to extend Prussian power and influence over the German states

• Wars against: - Denmark (1864) - Austria (1866) - France (1870)

• An opportunist who exploited a series of crises and events

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• Member of the conservative elite - a Prussian ‘Junker’

EUROPE

Ems Telegram

Europe 1871

Bismarck’s Germany

• Two main “problems” that Bismarck believed he had to deal with in the new Germany:

1. Catholics

2. Socialists

• Bismarck dominated the new Germany

Never has a subject been granted so much power from his sovereign and never has a minister inspired a nation with more terror. Lady Emily Russell, 1880

• His main aim in both domestic and foreign policy was to consolidate the position of the new Reich

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Kulturkampf (struggle of cultures)

• The first reason for the Kulturkampf was the establishment of Zentrum (The Catholic Centre Party).

• Around 15 million Catholics in Germany – a powerful minority.

• Led by Ludwig Windhorst, Bismarck feared that they would dominate political life and potentially be disloyal to the Reich.

• This would prove to be an irrational fear – most German Catholics were loyal and patriotic .

• The second cause of the Kulturkampf was a an edict by Pope Pius IX known as the “Doctrine of Papal Infallibility”.

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The Kulturkampf• Laws passed to bring Catholic Church under government control

• State supervision of Catholic schools, including the education of priests

• Catholic clergy appointed by the state, not the pope

• Religious orders abolished and Jesuits expelled

• All marriages etc. managed by the state, not the Church

• Religious freedom removed – violation of laws was punished

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Despite these measures, the Kulturkampf failed – Catholicism thrived and the Centre Party grew. Bismarck had provoked division, not unity.

Socialism

Why was socialism seen as a threat to German unity?

2. “Workers of the world unite” – Bismarck saw internationalism as a threat to German nationalism.

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1. Socialism called for equality and democracy – a system utterly different to the elitist regime of privilege and patronage established by Bismarck.

Rise of the Social Democrats

• Rapid industrialisation brought a growing working class

• Represented by the newly established Social Democratic Party (SPD)

• SPD policies – demanded nationalisation of banks and coal mines and greater social equality

• Bismarck passed an Anti-Socialist Law, greatly restricting the freedom of social democrats.

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• But support for the SPD grew further.

• Bismarck shifted to a new approach – curb the appeal of socialism by offering some state support for workers…

Bismarck’s “state socialism”

1883 – Sickness Insurance Law

1884 – Accident Insurance Law

1889 – Old Age and Invalidity Law

• Only to an extent – workers welcomed the measures but support for the SPD grew.

This revealed the tension in Germany’s domestic politics- German society increasingly did not reflect its elitist, undemocratic government

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• Many of Bismarck’s traditional supporters complained that these measures were too ‘socialistic’.

Did it work?

Bismarck’s Foreign Policy 1871-1890

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• Clear link between Bismarck’s foreign and domestic policy – both aimed to consolidate Germany’s position in Europe.

Reasons for restraint?

• Germany had several potential enemies• Not in Germany’s interest to upset other major

European powers• Desire to consolidate position, not to expand

Reasons for expansion?

• Germany had a large population (almost 50 million)

• A strong army• Growing economic potential

Five Foreign Policy Aims:

1. Preservation of peace in Europe

Balkans

2. Concentration on European issues

3. Isolation of France

4. Prevention of anti-German coalition - League of Three Emperors - Dual and Triple Alliance

5. Diversion of other powers to non-European activities

Africa

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Togo

Cameroon

German South West Africa

German East Africa

New Guinea

Samoa

German Colonies

Bismarck’s LegacyForeign Policy• Ultimately Bismarck’s foreign policy was defensive.• His aim was security and consolidation, not aggression or expansion.• This pleased Germany’s European neighbours but not

necessarily the powerful elements in German society…

Domestic Policy• In the end, his efforts to curtail the influence of factions such as the Socialists and Catholic Party failed.• He exacerbated divisions in German society.• The Constitution which he helped to create was authoritarian – too much power lay in the hands of the Kaiser and the army, while the Reichstag was limited.• A tradition of political confrontation had been established that

was to continue after the new Kaiser, Wilhelm II, demanded Bismarck’s resignation in March 1890.