Bismarck - politics

Question 1

What role did Bismarck play as German Chancellor?

Answer 1

Controlled the governments of Prussia and German Empire.
Centre of policy

Question 2

How did Bismarck push his policies through the Reichstag?

Answer 2

Lectured the Reichstag until he got their approval.
If he didn’t, he sought Wilhelm to dissolve the Reichstag.

Question 3

What was the relationship like between the Kaiser and Bismarck?

Answer 3

Wilhelm I became entirely dependent on Bismarck and allowed him to do as he pleased
If the Kaiser and Chancellor disagreed, Bismarck would threaten to resign

Question 4

In what ways was Bismarck’s power limited?

Answer 4

He was ultimately answerable to the Kaiser
Relied on the Reichstag when the army budget was up for renewal

Question 5

What were the main policies of the National Liberals?

Answer 5

Supported Bismarck’s policy of German Unification
Favoured free trade, a strong Germany and a constitutional Liberal state.

Question 6

Who made up the National Liberals?

Answer 6

Protestant middle class

Question 7

What was the relationship between the National Liberals and Bismarck?

Answer 7

Supported Bismarck throughout the 1870s, but became increasingly at odds with him in their support for progressive social and constitutional laws.

Question 8

Who made up the Centre Party/Zentrum?

Answer 8

German Catholics

Question 9

What were the policies of the Zentrum?

Answer 9

Preserve the position of the Catholic Church, especially in education.
Conservative regarding the constitution
Favoured greater decentralisation
Liberal in social reform

Question 10

Where were the Centre Party strong?

Answer 10

Strong in the South - particularly Bavaria and the Rhineland

Question 11

Who did the Social Democratic Party represent?

Answer 11

Working classes and trade unions

Question 12

What were the policies of the SDP?

Answer 12

Supported a reduction in power of the elites and the extension of welfare reforms

Question 13

What was the “Liberal era”?

Answer 13

1871-78 - National Liberals were the dominant party in the Reichstag - 125 out of 397 seats. Bismarck formed an alliance with the Liberals.

Question 14

What were the advantages of having an alliance with the Liberals?

Answer 14

Bismarck divided the Liberals and reduced the strength of their opposition against his other policy.

Question 15

What laws did Bismarck pass in the “Liberal era” which furthered unification?

Answer 15

January 1876 - established a single currency
Turned the Prussian state bank into the Reichsbank
Began the process of standardising law, based on Prussian law codes
Harmonised weights and measures
Harmonised the postal system
Established a uniform law of commerce
Established a single court system

Question 16

What laws did Bismarck pass in the “Liberal era” to further free trade?

Answer 16

Abolished tariffs on all internal trade
Extended and joined the railway system across the whole empire.

Question 17

What did Bismarck do that strained his relationship with the National Liberals?

Answer 17

Press Law of 1874 - undermined the liberal principle of freedom of press
Tried to persuade the Reichstag that they should grant money for the army on a permanent basis so that military matters could be completely taken out of the Reichstag’s control
Septennial Law

Question 18

When was the Press Law and what was it?

Answer 18

1874 - allowed the government to prosecute editors who published material that they did not approve of.

Question 19

What was the Septennial Law?

Answer 19

Reichstag would vote on the military budget every seven years

Question 20

Why was Bismarck afraid of Socialism?

Answer 20

Success of the SPD
Long history of socialism

Question 21

What enabled Bismarck to pass the Anti-Socialist Laws?

Answer 21

May 1878 - attempt on the Kaiser by a plumber and ex-member of the SPD - tried to pass the laws then but failed
June 1878 - another attempt on the Kaiser by someone with socialist sympathies - passed the laws after this

Question 22

What were the Anti-Socialist Laws?

Answer 22

Could fine or imprison people involved with the SPD
Organisations that through social-democratic activities planned to overthrow the state were forbidden
Trade unions and cultural associations with links to socialism were banned.

Question 23

How many people were imprisoned or put to hard labour under the anti-socialist laws?

Answer 23

15,000

Question 24

How successful were the anti-socialist laws?

Answer 24

Initial decline in SPD support, but then grew throughout 1880s despite the renewal of the laws.
Prominent socialists expelled from major cities
Socialists emigrate
Trade unions crushed, but revived a few years later
Secret Socialist conferences were held abroad.

Question 25

What policies were introduced under state socialism?

Answer 25

1889 - old age and disability insurance
May 1883 - Medical insurance introduced
June 1884 - accident insurance

Question 26

How was state socialism received?

Answer 26

Some workers liked it, others through it a sham due to opposition of Trade unions and socialism
Some Liberals opposed the scheme as it extended the role of the state and threatened individual freedom
Employers disliked the trouble and expense of having to stamp the insurance book for each worker.