Bismarck didn't achieve his political goals

Question 1

Kulturkampf lead to regional divides

Answer 1

• 1800 priests arrested/exiled
• regional divides: catholics in south
• strengthened catholic party
• political divides: Junkers and royals opposed it
• ended it = suggests is ceased to be of any help to his goals

Question 2

Assassination attempts of Wilhelm the first, 1878

Answer 2

• used them to declare socialism as a threat in 1878
• shows that his goal was neither politically nor socially achieved by 1879
• fear of socialists wouldn’t help to unify lower classes

Question 3

Use of extreme action

Answer 3

e.g. exile of ethnic poles

• suggests divisions were so great that extreme action was the only way he could achieve any notion of unity

Question 4

The electorate

Answer 4

• 85% upper and middle classes elected 1/3 of deputies
• 5% richest elected 1/3 deputies
• universal suffrage = a cosmetic illusion of democracy