Bismarck's Germany: political parties and pressure groups

Question 1

National Liberals (NL)

Answer 1

• supported Bismarck’s policy of German unification
• party of the protestant middle classes and supported by wealthy, well-educated men such as bankers, merchants and civil servants
• favoured free trade, a strong Germany and a constitutional liberal state
• grew more conservative after 1875 in response to the strength of the the SPD

Question 2

Centre Party (Zentrum)

Answer 2

• represented the German Catholics and minorities opposed to Bismarck
  strong in southern German states particularly Bavaria and the Rhineland
• determined to preserve the position of the Catholic church, especially in education
• conservative regarding the constitution and favoured greater decentralisation but quite liberal in its attitude to social reform

Question 3

Social Democratic Party (SPD)

Answer 3

• represented the working classes and worked with the trade unions
• supported a reduction in power of the elites and the extension of welfare reforms
• the most extreme members wanted a total overthrow of the constitution but the majority were prepared to work within it in order to bring about better conditions for the masses

Question 4

German Conservative Party (DKP)

Answer 4

• mainly represented the protestant and aristocratic Prussian Junker landowners
• most right wing political group
• detested the Reichstag as it was elected by universal suffrage
• generally supported Bismarck but was concerned by is flirtations with nationalism and liberalism

Question 5

Free Conservatives (FKP)

Answer 5

• represented landowners, industrialists and businessmen
• its members were strong supporters of Bismarck and admired his great achievement in uniting Germany
• unlike the DKP they approved Bismarck’s resort to Liberalism in his form of constitutional government
• its geographic base was wider than the DKP

Question 6

Progressives (DFP)

Answer 6

• a party which believed in a Liberal constitutional state which allowed free trade and was subject to the rule of law
• disliked centralism and militarism so was not very supportive of Bismarck
• wanted to extend teh powers of the Reichstag