Bismarck's evaluation Flashcards
What did Bismarck do regarding the new German Constitution? (2)
- Germany was divided into 39 states which Bismarck united under the new constitution.
- Some say that Bismarck just took control of the circumstances and that unification was inevitable.
How successful was Bismarck for creating the new constitution?
Bismarck was very successful in unifying the country whatever the circumstances (Franco-Prussian war), which made unification almost inevitable.
What did Bismarck do to further unify Germany?
- Bismarck created a new democracy where all men over the age of 25 could vote.
- It was heavily Prussian dominated and the Kaiser and Chancellor had a lot of power.
How successful was Bismarck in further unifying Germany?
There was a new constitution but it wasn’t very democratic.
What did Bismarck do in the struggle against the Catholic Church? (2)
- Bismarck was successful in taking away many right of the Catholic Church.
- There were many Catholics rallying together in the Zentrum, which meant that in 1878 Bismarck wound down the Kulturkampf until its end 1887.
How successful was Bismarck during the Kulturkampf?
The Kulturkampf failed, despite Bismarck’s efforts, and the Catholics maintained their rights in Germany.
What did Bismarck do for economic protection?
- Bismarck and the National Liberals fell out over the trade unions. Bismarck wanted protective tariffs where as the Liberals wanted free trade.
- Bismarck was able to impose the tariffs.
- The National Liberals split in 1877-78 and Bismarck gained the support of the conservatives and some of the Zentrum despite the Kulturkampf.
How successful was Bismarck for getting economic protection?
Bismarck was able to get the economic protection he wanted but ultimately lost the support of his party so had to find support from elsewhere.
What did Bismarck do in the struggle against socialism?
-How did the SDP react?
Bismarck unleashed many anti-socialist laws as it went against his own political views. It was a worldwide movement and workers gained more support. Thus, the SDP got more support?
How successful was Bismarck for ending socialism
Bismarck was able to enforce many laws against the SDP but, because of the international support, he couldn’t get rid of them completely.
What did Bismarck do for the control of the national minorities? (3)
- Enforced ‘Germanisation’ and expelled 34,000 Poles and Jews
- Kulturkampf
- He was more tolerant of the western minorities, like the French.
How successful was Bismarck for controlling the national minorities?
Manage to enforce some rules, like in the Kulturkampf, but couldn’t enforce all of them. E.g: He couldn’t get all of the Jews to leave.
What did Bismarck do for controlling the Reichstag?
Bismarck had a very turbulent relationship with the Reichstag. He would dissolve it whenever they got into an argument.
How successful was Bismarck for controlling the Reichstag?
Bismarck generally got what he wanted but not without having arguments in the Reichstag.
