2 Government Opposition: 1871 - 1888 Flashcards
Who was the most powerful party in Germany in 1871?
National Liberals
How many seats a did the most popular party get?
125
What was the Septennial Law?
Bismarck wanted permanent army funding but the Reichstag did not want to give up any more power. They both compromised and the army budgeting was review every 7 years
When was the Septennial Law passed?
1874
Why was the Septennial Law a defeat and a success for Bismarck?
He took some of the Reichstag power away, but they still has influence
What was the press Law?
Revoked the freedom of press to print what they want
What document said that the pope could do do no wrong?
Doctrine of Papl Infallibility
When was the document about the pope published?
1870
What did Bismarck call his enemies?
Reichfiende
Who was the leader of the Centre Party?
Windhorst
Name the number of seats in two CP election
1871: 58
1881: 100
Why would Bismarck be concerned about the rise of the CP?
He believed Germans should be loyal to the state, not the church
By 1874, they became the second biggest party in the Reichstag
How did Bismarck retaliate their growth?
Kulturkampf
What is the kulturkampf?
Conflict between government and religious authorities
How long did the Kulturkampf last for?
4 years
What happens in the first year of the Kulturkampf?
1871: Press attack the church
Catholic section of the Prussian ministry of religion and education was abolished
What happened in the second year of the Kulturkampf?
1872: Treatment if Jesuits
Forbidden from preaching or entering schools
An anti-Jesuit campaign gradually spread through Germany
What happens in the third year of the Kulturkampf?
1873: May/Falk Laws
Brought the church further under the government
Catholic education became under state control
Priests has to take a state test to confirm their state loyalty to stay or become a priest.
What happened in the fourth year of the Kulturkampf?
1874: Registration Change
Registration of births, marriages, and deaths were under state control.
What was the result of the Kulturkampf?
By 1876, all catholic bishops had been exiled or imprisoned
1,400/4,600 parishes without priests
Increased CP support. 91 seats in ‘74’
What factors were involved in Bismarck stopping the Kulturkampf?
Wanted a closer alliance with catholic Austria
Suspected the CP were helping the French
Needed CP and NL alliance in ending free trade
Felt socialise was a greater threat
When Pius IX died in 78, the new pope wanted reconciliation
What was the new popes name?
Leo XIII
What are some advantages of free trade?
Cheaper higher quality foods being imported
What are some disadvantages of free trade?
Undercuts local sellers, bad for junkers
What are some advantages of protectionism?
Protects locals from foreign sellers
What are some disadvantages of protectionism?
The price of hood quality goods will me more expensive
Encourages retaliation from other countries
Who advocated for free trade in the Zollverine
Rudolf Delbunk
When did Bismarck introduce tariffs?
1879
What did Bismarck introduce tariffs on?
Iron, iron goods and grain
Why did Bismarck introduce the tariffs?
Sympathise with the junkers about their worrying income
Price of wheat and rye were decreasing, from 238 Marks in ‘71’ to 198 Marks in ‘79’.
Favoured self sufficiency
Retaliation to Russia’s protectionism against German wheat
Why did the National Liberals seats decline?
The NL were working in favour for Bismack, rather then he people
Kulturkampf 1871 - 1874
Press and Septennial Law 1874
Protectionism and Tariffs 1879
Why did Bismarck introduce anti-socialist laws?
Felt socialism was an international movement and a threat to the unity of Germany
Two attempted assassinations on the Emperors life
When was the first assassination attempt?
May 1878
Who tried to assassinate the Emperor the first time?
A plumber and Max Hödel, former member of the SPD
when was the second assassination attempt?
June 1878
A month later
Who tries to assassinate the Emperor the second time?
Dr Karl Nobiling
How did Bismarck rouse support for the Anti-Socialist Bill? Assassinations
Max Hödel was a former SPD member. Dr Nobiling did not have any direct ties to socialism, but he did sympathise with them.
Name two dates elections and the number of seats the SPD won
1871: 2
1874: 6
1877: 12
How did the law harm socialism in Germany?
Trade unions were crushed
SPD numbers initially declined
Many exiled or imprisoned with hard labour
How did the law help socialism in Germany?
The socialist vote nearly doubled between 1878 and 1887
Within a few years, trade unionism was revived. By 1890 membership reached 278,000
New party newspaper
What was the new party newspaper called?
The Social Democrat
What is State Socialism?
Benefits given to the people
What state socialism did Bismarck provide?
Accident Insurance
Medical Insurance
Pentions
What are Bismarcks motivation for introducing state socialism?
To try and get people to vote for him rather than the SPD, because he was giving the people what the SPD were going to get for them.
When was Medical Insurance introduced?
May 1883
Features of the Medical Insurance
Paid jointly by employee and employer
Payment for medical bills for women and their families
Covered 3 million workers
When was accident Insurance introduced?
June 1884
Features of Accident Insurance
Paid by employer
Provided benefits and funeral grants to he injured at work
In 1886, covered 7 million agri workers
When was the old-age Pensions introduced?
May 1889
Features of the old-age Pensions
For people over the age of 70
What are some successes of the anti-socialist laws?
Anti-Socialist laws renewed four times
No revolution before 1918
What are some failures of the anti-socialist laws?
More expensive then expected
People saw ‘state socialism’ as a sham
SPD support grew.
How many seats did the SPD have in 1890?
35
What was the development in The National Liberals?
Dominant 1871-1878
Divided over the Press Law, Army Bill in 1874, tariff reforms and Anti-Socialist Law
Right wing of party supported Bismarck
Left wing of part joined progressives
What was the development in The Zentrum?
Weakened by Kulturkampf
After 1878, supportive of anti-liberal and anti-socialist laws
Not fully reliable
What was the development in The Social Democratic Party?
Formed in 1875, with a Marxist programme
Focused on fighting Reichstag elections
Grew considerably 1878-1890
Vocal in opposition to Bismarcks policies in 1880’s
What was the development in The Conservatives?
Challenged by Liberal dominance
From 1878, Bismarcks strongest support base
When did Wilhelm I die?
1888
Who succeeded Wilhelm I?
His son, Friedrich
Who succeeded Friedrich?
His son, Wilhelm
When did Friedrich’s successor become kaiser?
1888
What was the relationship like between Wilhelm II and Bismarck?
They disagreed a low as they were both loud and prominent characters.
What did Wilhelm II and Bismarck disagreed on?
Minister President
Bismarck wanted to stay Minister President of Prussia, amd wanted to be able to control policy-making.
The kaiser believed in personal rule and wanted to limit the powers of the Minister President of Prussia.
What did Wilhelm II and Bismarck disagreed on?
Socialism
Bismarck wanted to repress socialism and the workers agitation
Wilhelm II was more sympathetic and belied they should win over the industrial workers
What did Wilhelm II and Bismarck disagreed on?
Countries
Bismarck wanted to maintain close relations with Russia
The Kaiser favoured Austria
What did Wilhelm II and Bismarck disagreed on?
Public Opinion
The chancellor was uninterested in public opinion. Was happy to fight the Reichfiende and stay aloof in politics
The Kaiser wanted to be loved by all classes and percieved himself as a ‘Peoples Emperor’
What two bills did Bismarck introduce to the Reichstag in 1890?
Army bill to increase the army by 125,000 men
To make Anti-socialist laws more severe and permanent
What was the Reichstags reaction to Bismarcks 1890 bills?
They rejected them
What was Bismarcks plans about getting the 1890 bills passed?
To get the Bundestrat to alter the constitution so that the Reichstag would lose most of its power and voting rights.
What was the result of Bismarcks 1890 plan?
Rejected by Kaiser.
They both argues and Bismarck accused the Kaiser of ‘meddling in foreign affairs’.
Bismarck was forced to resign
When was Bismarck forced to resign?
March 1890
