Ruling the Second Reich 1871-79 Flashcards

1
Q

Which were the most powerful states in the German Confederation?

A

Prussia and Austria were the most powerful states in the German Confederation

The confederation was dominated by the Austrians. No new, unified German state could come into being without both Austria and Prussia agreeing (or fighting)

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2
Q

How did Austria humiliate Prussia in May 1849?

A

In May 1849, the Prussian King brought together 20 German states in the Erfurt Union; this left out Austria but Austrian pressure saw it abandoned and the Austria regained political leadership of the German Confederation after humiliating Prussia

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3
Q

What advantage did Prussia have over Austria leading up to 1871?

A

Austria was more powerful but Prussia was the more expansive of the two

Prussia increasingly challenged this position through expansion, although Austria already had a huge empire including Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Romania

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4
Q

What was the difference between Grossdeutsch and Kleindeutsch?

A

Some German states supported a ‘greater Germany’ (Grossdeutsch) led by Austria

Others wanted to support a ‘little Germany’ (Kleindeutsch) led by Prussia. Some feared Prussia would be controlled by the ultra-conservative Prussian monarchy

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5
Q

What was the congress of Vienna intended to do?

A

Towards the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1814-5, the Congress of Vienna was held to provide a long-term peace plan for Europe

The 360 states that had made up the Holy Roman Empire (in the region where Germany is now) were reduced to just 39 sovereign states which became known as the German Confederation in 1815

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6
Q

How did Prussia compete with Austria in 1834?

A

The two most powerful states in the German Confederation, Prussia and Austria, competed for leadership of the group

In 1834, Prussia gained the upper hand by introducing a free-trade area (or Zollverein) which Austria did not join

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7
Q

Who in Prussia worked to exclude Austria following the formation of the Zollverein?

A

Prussia, under the leadership of Prime Minister Otto von Bismarck from 1862, worked to exclude Austria from German affairs and aimed to unite all other German states under Prussian leadership

Bismarck famously said that unification would not be brought about “by speeches and the resolutions of majorities but by blood and iron”.

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8
Q

When were the unification wars and what resulted from them?

A

There were unification wars in 1864, 1866, and 1870-1, resulting in Germany being unified in 1871 with King Wilhelm I of Prussia being made Kaiser of Germany in January 1871

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9
Q

What problems faced the newly unified Germany?

A
  • Up until 1871, the 39 states that made up the German Confederation had their own sovereignty and so they weren’t used to being controlled by another power
  • There German Confederation was a rather loose collection of states and the only real cooperation between them was trade and a common defense policy
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10
Q

What lines existed between the newly unified states of Germany?

A
  • Each state valued its independence and often had strong regional identities. Some states even had their own king (e.g. Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg)
  • The different states were also divided along religious lines with the Catholic area of Bavaria having a very different outlook and different values from the Protestant Prussia
  • Whilst a shared language was a useful unifier, Prussia (any Austria, before 1871) had many non-German speakers and people who didn’t consider themselves ethnically German
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11
Q

What were Schleswig and Holstein, and how were the Danes involved?

A

Schleswig and Holstein were two duchies ruled by the Danish crown. Holstein was German-speaking and a member of the German Confederation. Schleswig had both German had both German and Danish speakers but was not in the Confederation

The Danes wanted Schleswig; the Germans wanted them both. War ensued in 1848 and the outcome was the Danish King would rule Schleswig-Holstein but not incorporate them into Denmark

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12
Q

Why did war occur between the Danes and the German Confederation in 1864?

A

The new Danish King, Christian IX, incorporated Schleswig into Denmark in 1863 by the Germans demanded the title of Duke of Schleswig-Holstein be given to Frederick, Duke of Augustenburg (because he would bring both areas into the German Confederation)

When the terms decreed in 1848 were violated by the incorporation, Prussia and Austria formed an alliance in 1864 and attacked Denmark. As a result of their victory within months, Schleswig-Holstein was handed over to Prussia and Austria

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13
Q

Why did joint rule of Schleswig-Holstein by Austria and Prussia after 1864 struggle?

A

Joint rule of the region was difficult and Austria realised it had gained nothing by supporting Bismarck and Prussia against Denmark

It was decided that Austria would administer Holstein and Prussia would administer Schleswig. It was this issue which led to war between the two states in 1866

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14
Q

What occurred in the war between Austria and Prussia following Austria’s dismay at the administration of Schleswig-Holstein?

A

As a result of disagreements about the Schleswig-Holstein issue, Prussia and Austria went to war in 1866, the 7 Weeks War, June-July 1866

After 7 weeks, Prussia were victorious (mainly due to superior weaponry) following the decisive battle at Koniggratz. Bismarck claimed this victory was part of his master plan for unifying Germany, but many historians dispute this, claiming he was merely pragmatic

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15
Q

What resulted from the Treaty of Prague following the Schleswig-Holstein affair and 7 Weeks War?

A

The Treaty of Prague led to the creation of a German state, the North German Confederation, ruled by Prussia.

Only four states: Bavaria, Wurttemberg, Baden, and Hesse-Darmstadt, remained independent. 2/3 of all Germans (except Austrian-Germans) were now part of the North German Confederation

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16
Q

Before the mess with Spain, how did tensions between France and Prussia help lead to the Franco-Prussia War 1870-1?

A

France, under Napoleon III (who was the nephew of THE Napoleon, apparently) had thought they might gain from a prolonged war between Prussia and Austria. As it happened, however, they were alarmed at the speed of the Prussian victory and strengthening of their power

Bismarck later claimed a unified Germany could only have happened after defeating France

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17
Q

How did stupidity in Spain lead to the Franco-Prussian War 1870-1?

A

In 1870, the Spanish offered their throne to the Prussian Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern but the French, fearful of being surrounded by Prussia influence, demanded the offer be turned down

The Prussian King, Wilhelm I agreed but the French demanded that no Prussian could ever take the Spanish throne. This was refused and the French declared war

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18
Q

Why was the Franco-Prussian War 1870-1 kind of pathetic?

A

The war was short and decisive since no country came to France’s aid

The French were defeated after the Battle of Sedan in September 1870 but some revolutionaries carried on fighting in Paris until January 1871

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19
Q

What resulted from the Franco-Prussian War 1870-1 for Germany?

A

Victory in the Franco-Prussian War led directly to the final unification and The German Empire was declared on 18th January, 1871, at the Palace of Versailles.

Wilhelm I was declared Kaiser (Emperor) of Germany and the four states who hadn’t joined the North German Confederation did join the new Germany

Bismarck also took Alsace-Lorraine from France, with £200,000, as compensation for the war

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20
Q

What were the political components of the Second Reich 1871-1918?

A
  • Kaiser (Emperor)
  • Government: Chancellor and other ministers
  • Reichstag
  • Bundesrat
  • The Electorate, of course
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21
Q

How did the Kaiser rule over the Second Reich?

A
  • Hereditary monarch (king of Prussia)
  • Appointed/dismissed government
  • Could dissolve Reichstag
  • Controlled foreign policy and armed forces
  • Could interpret the constitution

He summoned/dismissed the Reichstag, summoned the Bundesrat, and appointed the Government

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22
Q

How did the Reichstag rule over Second Reich?

A
  • Members (deputies) elected by male suffrage
  • Could agree/reject laws proposed by Kaiser or government
  • Main power was control over the budget
  • Could not remove Kaiser or government
  • Elected every 5 years (unless dissolved) and members not paid

Elected by electorate, summoned/dismissed by the Kaiser

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23
Q

How did the Government rule over the Second Reich?

A
  • Proposed new laws to Reichstag
  • Not dependant on Reichstag to stay in power and could ignore them
  • Chaired sessions of the Bundesrat

Appointed/dismissed by the Kaiser

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24
Q

How did the Bundesrat rule over the Second Reich?

A
  • Had 58 members nominated by state (Länder) assemblies: 17 were from Prussia, 6 from Bavaria, and smaller states had 1 each
  • Could veto legislation passed by the Reichstag with just 14 votes (of the 58)
  • Had extensive powers but basically rubber-stamped the Chancellor’s policies

Summoned by the Kaiser

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25
Q

How did the Electorate function in the Second Reich?

A
  • Men over 25 could vote in Reichstag election every 5 years
  • Voted for local state assemblies
  • Written constitution but no statement of individual rights
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26
Q

Who were the National Liberals?

A
  • Supported creation of a German Empire
  • Mainly based in north of country
  • Backed Bismarck until 1878
  • Represented the educated and wealthy middle class of Germany and did well in Saxony, Hanover, Baden and the industrial areas of the Rhineland
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27
Q

Who were the Centre (Z) party?

A
  • Represented Catholic Interests
  • Strongest support in the south e.g. Bavaria and Baden but also Rhineland, Silesia, and the Polish population in the eastern side of Prussia
  • Began to gain more votes from the national groups, particularly Poles and French, over the course of the 1870s
28
Q

Who were the German Conservative Party (DKP)?

A
  • Represented the interests of German landowners (Junkers) in Prussia
  • Disliked unification and only backed Bismarck after 1878
29
Q

Who were the SAPD?

A
  • Formed in 1875 through the merging of two workers’ parties, due ti rapid urbanisation, the economic depression of the 1870s, and the appeal of socialism
  • Attracted about 7%e of the vote during the 1870s
30
Q

Who were the National Groups?

A
  • Represented the many Poles, Danes, and French that lived in Germany
  • These groups faced discrimination and were treated with suspicion because of their questionable loyalties to Germany and their different ethnic backgrounds
  • Won 10% of the vote in 1874 by, over time, these groups became assimilated within Germany as new generations attended German schools and were conscripted into the army
31
Q

What portion of Germans were Catholic, and how did many Germans feel about the new state?

A

1/3 of the new Germany was Catholic and they felt discriminated in a country dominated by the Protestant Prussians

Moreover, Junkers, Southern Germans, peasants, and non-Prussians (e.g. those in Hanover) viewed the new nation with distrust. Bismarck had to create a new constitution which secured Prussian power but which also overcame the divisions in the country

32
Q

What happened to the monarchs of the previous states upon unification?

A
  • Each of the 22 royal rulers in the newly unified Germany were given substantial powers under the Prussian king, who became Kaiser

According to the constitution, each of the German sovereigns were equal but since the Kaiser controlled the civil service and the military, this wasn’t true

33
Q

What could the Kaiser do that put him ahead of other German monarchs?

A

The Kaiser was able to proclaim imperial laws which superseded state laws

Despite this, the constitution integrated the royal families of the former German Confederation under the rule of the Kaiser

34
Q

How was the German currency and other areas unified?

A

A single German currency was created (the mark) as well as standardised measurements and weights

A national legal system was introduced, a national civil service (for all states to use), and the German railway system was linked up between states. A single German flag was created in 1892

35
Q

How was the German army unified in the Second Reich?

A

The German army was made up of four separate armies: Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg

Each army owed its allegiance to the king

36
Q

How was the German army unified in the Second Reich?

A

The German army was made up of four separate armies: Prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, and Württemberg

Each army owed its allegiance to the king of that state except in time of war when the Kaiser was put in charge of the army (an Prussian command would take over)

37
Q

How did the Prussians maintain control of the German army?

A

Whilst the other states had an important role in the military, the Prussian military elite, led by the Kaiser and the Junkers, controlled the army

38
Q

What were Bismarck’s views on democracy?

A

Bismarck was sceptical of democracy but believed that allowing Germans a democratic vote would minimise the impact of more liberal influences and encourage continued support for the monarchy

Bismarck worried that denying any form of democracy would simply encourage political opposition (as had been seen in Russia)

39
Q

How did Bismarck limit the power of the Reichstag?

A
  • Reichstag members would receive no payment, so the less privileged found it harder to run
  • Allowed the Reichstag to vote on all legislation in order for it to pass, but couldn’t initiate legislation
  • Allowed the Bundesrat to veto all legislation from the Reichstag and neither the chancellor, military chief, nor the Kaiser were accountable to the Reichstag
  • Decided that if the Reichstag did reject any legislation from the chancellor or the Bundesrat, the Kaiser could dissolve the Reichstag and call for new elections
40
Q

How could the Reichstag maintain power despite Bismarck’s efforts?

A

Bismarck’s new Reich needed a vast number of new laws so the Reichstag was frequently voting on legislation, making it difficult to dissolve the Reichstag every time they disagreed, forcing concessions

The Reichstag’s main power was control of the budget and, again, they could make life difficult for Bismarck if he was too confrontational

41
Q

What privileges did deputies in the Reichstag enjoy?

A

The Reichstag was an open forum of debate whose members enjoyed parliamentary immunity (meaning they could say anything and not fear arrest)

Debates were widely reported in the press. The chancellor and ministers could be questioned and embarrassed

42
Q

What did universal suffrage mean for the Reichstag, and what was Bismarck’s reaction?

A

Universal male suffrage developed the growth of mass political parties with popular appeal - whilst these parties were in no position to form a government, Bismarck couldn’t ignore them

He also needed to work with the Reichstag to a certain extent in order to gain more widespread appeal for his policies. Bismarck considered changing the constitution in the 1880’s because of the growing power of the Reichstag, a sign it has some influence

43
Q

How important was the army in Germany?

A
  • Conscription meant that all German men served in the army for 2-3 years, instilling patriotism
  • In war, army came under control of Kaiser, meaning Prussian generals had huge influence as they were only accountable to the Kaiser
  • Army budget was not renewed annually, meaning it was virtually independent if the Reichstag and budgetary controls
44
Q

How did Bismarck meddle with the army budget up to 1874?

A
  • 1867, Bismarck and NLs agreed that the military budget should remain fixed, outside of Reichstag control until 1872
  • Franco-Prussian War extended this to 1874
45
Q

What did Bismarck do with the army budget in 1874 that the NLs then opposed?

A

1874, Bismarck presented a law that said an army over 400,000 men would automatically be financed by federal expenditure

The NLs opposed this suggestion, and Bismarck accused them of trying to undermine German Military strength, threatening to call an election

The NLs shrank away and a compromise was reached - military budgets were fixed for 7 years at a time

46
Q

Who led the NLs, and what proportion of the vote did it have?

A

Led by Rudolf Bennigsen, representing the middle and industrial classes

In 1871 election, gained 30.1% of the vote. 1874, dropped to 29.7% but remained the largest party

47
Q

How did Bismarck and the NLs opposed the Catholics?

A

Both Bismarck and the NLs feared the Catholic Support for the Z party

The NLs thusly supported Bismarck against the Catholic Church in the “Kulturkampf”, therefore prepared to work with Bismarck until 1879 even though they disagreed a lot

48
Q

How did Bismarck break up the NLs?

A

Following an economic crash in 1873, Bismarck demanded introduction of tariffs which contrasted the NLs free trade ideology

In 1878, Bismarck’s pro-tariff message was seen as patriotic and may voters switched to the Conservative party. NL vote slumped to 23.1%

Tariff bill in 1879 led to split with mor Conservative members voting with Bismarck. By August 1880, the NLs had split into the now National Liberal Party and the Liberal Union

49
Q

How did the NL offshoot, the Liberal Union, oppose Bismarck?

A

The LU won support in the Reichstag and in the 1881 election, the LU and progressive party got 21.1% of the vote, forming the German Free-minded Party in 1884, the second most popular, other than the Z

Both were opposed to Bismarck, meaning from 1881-6, Bismarck’s ability to manage the Reichstag was severely weakened and he found himself increasingly isolated there

50
Q

What were Bismarck’s concerns with the Z party?

A

The Z party supported not only German-speaking Catholics, but also Catholic non-German ethnic groups such as some Poles and French

The Catholics also had supported Austria in 1866 and opposed Italy, Germany’s ally

51
Q

What sort of things occurred in the Kulturkampf?

A

Laws which allowed state authorities to inspect Catholic Schools and van Jesuits

1873 ‘Prussia May Laws’ established state control over the church, with the state educating and appointing priests

Church property seized, clergy unappointed by state expelled, and “Bread-Basket Law”, withdrawing financial support from any priest who did not publicly support the state

52
Q

How successful was the Kulturkampf?

A

1800 priests exiled/arrested, 16 million reichsmarks of property seized

Strengthened support for the Z party, gained votes from all social classes, such as bankers. Vote share 18.6% in 1871 to 27.9% in 1874, by 1878 equal biggest to the NL

Catholics disadvantaged, less job opportunities, protestant men 50% more likely to go to university

53
Q

How did the Kulturkampf end?

A

Bismarck no longer found it politically helpful, as he was moving against the NLs and needed Z support

Pius IX died in 1878 and was replaced by Leo XIII, who was willing to work with the German government and find compromise

The Kaiser and Xinservatives opposed the Kulturkampf, as Catholics seen as bulwark against secular Liberalism

54
Q

What were some limitations to Germany’s unity?

A
  • There was no national flag or anthem
  • Sedantag, which celebrated German victory over France at Battle of Sedan, was opposed by many, southern states celebrated their own victories
  • many socialist politicians viewed the national holiday as a celebration of Prussian militarism and refused to recognise it
55
Q

How did the German government influence schooling to try and instill nationalism

A
  • Primary schools, High school, and Univeristies were required to teach nationalism as a subject
  • Pupils in 1871 were encouraged to see 1871 as the fulfilment of a historical destiny hag led to the formation of a great, unified Germany
  • The school curriculum focused on instilling the values of loyalty to the Kaiser and obedience to the Kaiserreich
  • Schools enforced the teaching of German over Polish or French
56
Q

How did Bismarck use two assassination attempts on Wilhelm I to push his anti-socialism?

A

Declared socialism was a threat to Germany, despite the assassins not being socialist

He dissolved the Reichstag for refusing his anti-socialist laws, and reduced the votes of the NLs (lost 130,000 votes and 29 seats) and the SADP (fell from 493,000 to 312,000)

57
Q

What did Bismarck’s “the Law for Combating the Criminal Aims of Social Democracy” (October, 1878) do

A

Prohibited socialist meetings, giving power to police to raid, search, arrest, and exile Socialist politicians

1878-90, 1500 socialist imprisoned and many more emigrated.

Bismarck wanted the bind the middle classes together in their support of the German state and conservative institutions by making them fear an internal enemy, hell bent on pursuing revolution

58
Q

How successful was Bismarck’s goals against the Catholics and the Socialists?

A

Through theses policies, Catholics were seen as loyal to the pope and socialists seen as loyal to communism. Together, they were seen as a threat to the unity of Germany by not sharing the common nationalist goals and loyalty to the Kaiser and the German nation

The banning of the SAPD, however, merely pushed the movement underground and the party still retained considerable support - by 1890 the newly named SPD had 1 million votes and 35 seats in the Reichstag

59
Q

Why were the French and Germans opposed on Catholicism by 1875?

A

By 1875, France recovered from the its defeat in 1871 and the republican government had been replaced by an aggressive royalist one.

Bismarck was concerned by the assertive France, and feared that, as Catholics, they might encourage Catholic opposition in Germany

The French had done nothing to stop French bishops criticising the Kulturkampf, and in 1874 Bismarck told the French there would be a threat to peace if France aligned with the Pope against German domestic policy

60
Q

Why was the German military concerned with the French in 1873?

A

Concerned about the French Army Organisational Law (1873) which increased French battalions from 3 to 4

The Germans estimated the French would therefore have 800,000 trained men in the case of conflict, an increase of 80,000

The German military leader, Moltke, even considered the possibility of a preventative war against France. Bismarck dismissed the idea but he was concerned by French actions too.

61
Q

How did Bismarck decide to put pressure on the French in 1875?

A

Bismarck challenged the French by building up pressure of its government to solve the situation

On 5th April 1875, the German newspaper Kölnische Zeitung (encouraged by Bismarck) published an article which painted a fearful picture of a Catholic conspiracy which claimed the French and Austrians were uniting against the Germans

62
Q

What article set off the War in Sight Crisis?

A

On the 9th April, 1875, an article in the Berliner Post asked ‘is war in sight?’. The article suggested the German government believed it was.

This press campaign put pressure on the French.

63
Q

How did the Berliner Post and the Kölnische Zeitung articles affect perceptions in Germany and Europe?

A

The articles caused considerable alarm in Germany and across Europe, with the Germans following this up with diplomatic actions making it clear they were considering a preventative war.

Von Moltke’s report on French military expansion was send to the British and a German diplomat in Russia told the French ambassador in Berlin that many Reichstag politicians were considering a war

The French, British, and Russians were alarmed at the prospect of another European war.

64
Q

How did the British and Russians try and intervene when it came to the War in Sight Crisis?

A

Tsar Alexander II visited Germany, with support of Queen Victoria for private talks with the Kaiser

On their conclusion, the Russian Chancellor Alexander Gorchakov told the press that he felt peace was no assured

The pressure from Russia and Britain forced Bismarck to back down on his attacks on France. Bismarck, however, was furious with Gorchakov believed that Russian and British influence had undermined his policy against France; talks between the Kaiser and Tsar had determined the direction of German policy, which he was excluded from.

65
Q

How did Bismarck change his stances following the War in Sight Crisis?

A

Bismarck became more cautious in his rhetoric against the French stopped talking on Catholic conspiracies and focused on Diplomacy

The Three Emperors League between Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Russia had been signed in 1873 but was weakened by the poor relations between Germany and Russia

There was increasing unease in Europe about the diplomatic goals of the new German nation