Bismarck 1871-78 Liberal Era

Question 1

Why was this period Bismarck’s Liberal Era?

Answer 1

He found it convenient to cooperate in the Reichstag with the National Liberal party

Question 2

Why did Bismarck maintain his political alliance with the National Liberals for 7 years?

Answer 2

• National Liberals were the dominant party (125/397 seats), gives him more power in the Reichstag
• Alliance with the National Liberals divided the Liberals + reduced the strength of their opposition against his other policies
• Spirit of conciliation that motivated the Indemnity of 1866 remained alive
• He came up with their main policy aim- National unity (lots of Liberals had been supporting him since 1862 as he was capable of bringing unity), easy to keep their support through the 70’s
• Pressure to bring in tariffs from powerful industry and agriculture to protect German goods from foreign competition-> BUT Bismarck was happy to support Liberal policy of free trade
• Bismarck wanted to attack Catholicism in Germany + weaken the new Catholic Centre Party through his Kulturkampf (1873)-> supported by Prussian Junkers + anticlerical Liberals
• Their immediate aims coincided with Bismarck’: National unity + centralisation of the administration of the Reich

Question 3

Why did Bismarck want more power in the Reichstag?

Answer 3

• The chancellor has no party by himself
• Reichstag has limited but significant voting powers under the new constitution
• ## Not enough voting strength from the Conservatives to give Bismarck an overall majority

Question 4

What was the Indemnity of 1866?

Answer 4

When Prussian Liberals voted to pardon Bismarck for levying taxes in 1862 without parliamentary permission in order to expand the Prussian army

Question 5

What happened in the first Reichstag session?

Answer 5

Over 100 acts were agreed to try and bring administrative + economic unity to the new state

Question 6

What laws were passed in the first Reichstag session?

Answer 6

-Turned the Prussian state bank into the Reichsbank
-Established a single currency (the mark) throughout the Reich, which became the only legal tender from January 1876
-Abolished tariffs on all internal trade
-Harmonised weights and measures
-Extended and joined the railway system across the whole empire
-Harmonised the postal system
-Established a uniform law of commerce
-Began the process of standardising law, based on Prussian law codes
-Established a single court system

Question 7

Why were Bismarck’s Junker supporters concerned with the alliance?

Answer 7

• Jealous of the growing powers of merchants, businessmen and factory owners + feared effects ie power of Prussian landowners

Question 8

Why were Junker fears of the alliance largely unjustified?

Answer 8

Bismarck always retained the upper hand when working with the National Liberals

Question 9

What were Bismarck’s concerns at the time?

Answer 9

For both German Unity + recognised the need to balance interests to keep both Liberals and Conservatives on board about his work

Question 10

How did Bismarck show he was not beholden to the National Liberals?

Answer 10

Passed the Press Law of 1874
- allowed government to prosecute editors who published materials they didn’t approve of, undermining the liberal principle of freedom of the press
Thwarted Reichstag attempts to reduce Junker influence in Prussian government
Army Budget renewal in 1874 since the last time in 1867
- Bismarck persuaded the Reichstag to grant money to the army on a permenant basis so military matters could be fully taken out of the Reichstag’s control
- NL horrified at the proposal
- compromise in the Septennial Law-> Reichstag would vote on the military budget every 7 years (lost means to bargain with the Chancellor + limited their power as lots of the Reich’s income came from indirect taxation + contributions of the constituent states)