Bismarck 1871 to 1890 Flashcards
What party did Bismarck align himself with from 1871 to 1879?
National Liberals
What party/parties did Bismarck align himself with from 1879 to 1890?
The Conservatives
How many seats did the National Liberals win in 1871?
125
How many seats did the National Liberals win in 1890?
42
How many seats did the Centre Party (Zentrum) win in 1871?
58
How many seats did the Centre Party (Zentrum) win in 1890?
106
How many seats did the SPD win in 1871?
2
How many seats did the SPD win in 1890?
35
When and what was the Anti-Socialist Bill?
1878, it banned socialist organisations (such as TUs), broke up socialist meetings, and outlawed socialist publications.
What were the results of the Anti-Socialist Bill?
1500 socialists were imprisoned from 1878 to 1890 and many emigrated
It didn’t work as the SPD continued to gain seats, with 12 in 1881, 24 in 1884, and 35 in 1890.
What happened when Bismarck tried to make the Anti-Socialist Bill permanent?
The Reichstag rejected this permanent bill in 1890, contributing towards his resignation the same year.
When and what was the Kulturkampf?
Measures taken against the Catholic Church from 1872 to 1878 in order to try and bring it under state control.
What were the results of the Kulturkampf?
The Centre Party still gained popularity, winning 91 seats in 1874.
It was ended in 1878 as Bismarck accepted it had failed, and wanted to focus on the threat of socialism.
Using statistics, what happened to Germany’s production levels between 1870 and 1890?
Coal production went from 38 million tonnes in 1870 to 89 million tonnes in 1890
Steel production went from 0.3 million tonnes in 1870 to 2.2 million tonnes in 1890
Railway networks doubled in size
What was the Eternal Law and the Septennial Law?
The Eternal Law tried to make the Army Budget permanent, but was rejected by the Reichstag
The Septennial Law fixed the Army Budget for 7 years
When and what was the Tariff Act under Bismarck?
It placed tariffs on imports in 1879 to encourage people to buy German goods locally.
What were the political consequences of the Tariff Act?
The National Liberals split, leading to the end of the Liberal era as Bismarck aligned himself with the Conservatives.
Name the three main acts which were part of State Socialism under Bismarck, and when they were passed.
Sickness Insurance Act (1883)
Accident Insurance Act (1884)
Old Age & Disability Act (1889)
What was the Sickness Insurance Act?
Provided medical treatment and up to 13 weeks of sick pay to 3 million low paid workers.
What was the Accident Insurance Act?
Gave protection to a worker who was permanently disabled/sick for 13+ weeks.
What was the Old Age & Disability Act?
Gave pensions to over 70s and disablement pensions for those who were younger & disabled.
