Bismarck Flashcards
What is a brief history of Germany between 1815-1871?
- 1815- toward the end of Napoleonic Wars, the Congress of Vienna was held as a peace plan for Europe - the Holy Roman Empire’s 360 states were reduced to 39 as the German Confederation
- Prussia and Austria were the German Federation’s most powerful states (no new German state could be made without their support)
- 1834- Prussia gained the upper hand by introducing a free-trade area (Zollverein) excluding Austria
- 1849- Prussian King brings 20 German states together (Erfurt Union) but left out Austria - Austrian pressure forced its way back to regain political leadership, humiliating Prussia
- Some German states supported a “greater Germany” under Austria, where as some supported a “little Germany” under Prussia
- 1862- Prussian Chancellor Bismarck worked to exclude Austria and unite all other German states under Prussia
- 1864, 1866, 1870 unification wars resulted in a unified Germany with king of Prussia becoming Kaiser of Germany in January 1871
What was Bismarck’s foreign policy between 1862-71?
1864 - Schleswig-Holstein Issue - Denmark violated Prussia’s terms that the Danish king would rule Holstein (German speaking member of German Confederation) and Schleswig (German and Danish speaking, not member) but not incorporate them into Denmark. Resulted in Prussian-Austrian alliance to attack Denmark, forcing the area to be handed to them in a joint rule. Austria administered Schleswig, and Germany Holstein.
June 1866 - disagreements between Austria and Prussia over the Schleswig-Holstein Issue led to 7 week war in which Prussia was victorious (Bismarck claimed this as his master plan for unifying Germany)
August 1866 - Treaty of Prague led to the creation of a German state under Prussia, 2/3 of Germans were now part of the North German Confederation
1870 - Spain offered their throne to Prussian Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern. France was fearful of Prussia surrounding it so demanded the offer be turned down. Wilhelm I agreed, France demanded no Prussian could ever take the Spanish throne, which was refused and France declared war (this Franco-Prussian War was short and decisive as no country came to French aid)
1871 - Franco-Prussian War victory led to final unification, the German Empire was declared including the 4 states not part of the North German Confederation. Alsace-Lorraine (and £200,000) was taken from France as compensation.
What were the problems facing the new unified Germany by 1871? (4)
- the 39 sovereign states making up the German Confederation were not used to being controlled by another power - states valued their independence, had strong regional identities and some had their own king e.g. Saxony
- only real cooperation between the states previously was trade and a defence policy
- states were divided along religious lines with Catholic Bavaria having different outlooks/values than Protestant Prussia
- Prussia had many non-German speakers and people who didn’t consider themselves German
What were the 4 components of the political structure in the Second Reich (1871-1918)?
- Kaiser
- Chancellor/government
- Bundesrat
- Reichstag
What was the role of the Kaiser in the Second Reich?
hereditary monarch that could appoint/dismiss government, dissolve the Reichstag, control foreign policy and the army
What was the role of the Chancellor/government in the Second Reich?
appointed by Kaiser, proposed new laws to Reichstag however not dependent on its support to stay in power and could ignore it, chaired the Bundesrat
What was the role of the Bundesrat in the Second Reich?
58 members (17 of which from Prussia) dominated by state/Länder assemblies, could veto Reichstag legislation with just 14 votes
What was the role of the Reichstag in the Second Reich?
members not payed and elected by men over 25 every 5 years, could agree/reject laws proposed by Kaiser or Government
How did Bismarck overcome divisions in the country through his new constitution?
- the 22 royal rulers were given substantial powers and integrated under the new Kaiser (LT stability through illusion of independence yet united states in a way not seen before) - each of the German sovereigns were apparently equal
- Reichstag established as an elected parliamentary body, all votes were equal for men over 25 (gave illusion of involvement in politics, Bismarck believed democracy would minimise political opposition/the impact of liberal influences and encourage support of the monarchy)
- single currency (mark) and standardised measurements/weights, national legal system, civil service and German railway system was created to link states (physical changes important for trade) and single German flag in 1892
- German army made up of 4 separate armies that owed allegiance to the king of that state (except in time of war)
How did Bismarck maintain divisions in the country through his new constitution?
- each of the German sovereigns were apparently equal - not true though as the Kaiser controlled the civil service/military and could proclaim imperial laws that overruled state laws)
- Reichstag was voted in to give people involvement in politics but in itself it had little power
- slow progress in establishing German flag in 1892, 20 years after Germany united - shows state disagreement
- in time of war, Kaiser/Prussian command would take over the military, and Prussian military elite controlled the army showing little state control in reality
What powers did Länder parliaments have?
- retained their old constitutions, control of education, transport, direct taxation, policing and health
- 4 separate armies controlled by sovereigns of Bavaria, Saxony and Wurttemberg
- southern states retained own railway and postal systems, and were exempt from taxes on alcohol
- Bundesrat could veto Reichstag legislation so could in theory undermine Prussia, this was made up of representatives of Länder parliaments (numbers depended on size of state)
What powers did Prussia maintain over Länder parliaments?
- Bismarck made deals with the south if they joined the Northern Confederation
- set up national tariffs, unified army, controlled banking system and foreign and economic policy
- Prussia’s size meant it had more representation in the Bundesrat (17/58 members) and only 14 votes were needed for a veto
- Prussian parliament was elected through a restricted franchise based on a 3-class system (how much tax they paid) - lowest taxpayers represented 85% of the population but only elected 1/3 of parliament, members weren’t directly chosen but people voted for an electoral college which chose the members - ensured the Bundesrat always had Junker interests and could block any legislation
- Kaiser/Prussia would always have supreme control over the military and government appointments
How was the Reichstag limited by Bismarck?
- members would receive no payment (only the privileged could run)
- Bundesrat could veto all legislation passed by the Reichstag
- could vote on legislation but not initiate it (could only be presented by Chancellor/Bundesrat)
- could be dissolved by the Kaiser at any time (e.g. if any legislation was rejected)
In what ways did the Reichstag have potential power?
- the new Reich needed new laws, and no laws could be without a Reichstag vote
- would be difficult for Kaiser/Bismarck to dissolve the Reichstag every rime they disagreed with him
- Reichstag had control over the budget
- members had parliamentary immunity, had open debates publicised in which the gov could be questioned
- male suffrage allowed for growth of popular political parties that couldn’t be ignored
- Bismarck considered changing the constitution in 1880s due to growing power of Reichstag
What happened to the Reichstag’s control over the budget?
- military budget had been fixed outside of Reichstag control until 1874
- agreed in 1874 that military budget would be set every 7 years
- 80% of all federal expenditure spent on army so huge threat to Reichstag monetary powers
