Kulturkampf 1871-1878 Appeal of German Nationalism Bismarck’s Motives and Methods
Catholics represented 37% of the population Franco-Prussian war (1870- Bismarck was known for manipulating the Kaiser and even threw
but were prominent in the southern states. 71), Austro-Prussian war temper tantrum-rages if the Kaiser did not approve of his ideas.
In 1870, the Pope released the Doctrine of (1860) and the Schleswig- He was brutal in his way of working, creating Germany through
Papal infallibility, declaring that the Catholic Holstein war (1864) spurred ‘blood and iron’.
church is against the liberalism and on nationalism as the At first, he sided with the National Liberals and worked with them
nationalism of recent societies, upsetting Germanic states were however, after the National Liberals and Progressive Liberals started
Bismarck. winning wars together. losing votes, he used the excuse of the end of the kulturkampf to
1871 the Zentrum were portrayed at the High Junker pride within the turn towards his natural supporters, the conservatives.
‘home’ of Bismarck’s ‘enemies’ or the army including the
Reichsfiende. chancellor, Bismarck. Protectionism/Tariff Act 1879
The catholic sect. of the Prussian Ministry of Existing threats from larger Bismarck believed that a threat to agriculture is a threat for the
Education and Religion was abolished. countries such as France and Junkers.
1872 diplomatic relations with the Vatican Russia, meaning a united Germany should not be dependent on foreign goods.
were broken and Jesuits were forbidden from Germany would stronger. Tariffs could provide the government with extra revenue.
preaching in Prussia but this eventually spread The new conservative coalition with Bismarck in 1879 saw the
across the entire empire.
1873 the May Laws were applied to Prussia,
Bismarck in Power: increase of tariffs which saw the alliance of steel and rye.
However, this led to raised living costs for workers, making them
these including a state exam to become a 1871-1890 more inclined to the socialists.
priest, the appointment of clergy by the state,
all Catholic orders were dissolved and state Further Unification Army Budget + Press Laws The Liberal Era 1871-1878
financial aid to the Catholic church ended. Bismarck and the NL 1878 National Liberals were the largest
The Pope instructed all German bishops to leader, Bennigsen, and Bismarck tried to pass party with 125 seats in 1871 and
disobey the anti-Catholic laws but Bismarck the Reichstag agreed to the Press Law, which was run by Bennigsen.
stopped the publication of the Pope’s letter. 100 new laws. would prosecute Zentrum was the 2nd largest party
By 1876, out of 4600 Catholic parishes, 1400 A new Reichsbank in 1876 editors who published with 63 seats in 1871.
were without priests. which was backed by material that he did There are 382 seats in total in the
Kaiser Wilhelm was originally unsure about the gold. not approve of, Reichstag.
kulturkampf but came to support it after a A national penal code in undermining liberal Bismarck disagreed with liberal
rude letter from Pope Pius IX. 1872. values but it passed policies but he needed the majority
The kulturkampf only resulted in the Zentrum Support for the extension the conservatives. to pass the laws he wanted, so he
gaining more seats- 91 seats by 1874. of the railway network The Army Budget saw stood by them till around 1878.
Bismarck, in the end, wanted to end the across the entire nation. Bismarck try to The liberals wanted further
kulturkampf due to wanting a closer alliance A single system of persuade the unification of Germany and helped
with Austria, wanting to ditch the Liberals, weights and measures. Reichstag that it with it.
socialism posing a greater threat and the Uniform law for should grant money Bismarck rid himself of the NL in
conservatives opposing the Kulturkampf. commerce and abolition for the army on a 1878 by calling an election,
Dr Falk, the Prussian Minister of Religion and of tariffs on internal trade permanent basis. depriving them of 29 seats.
Education, was forced to resign and used as a between the Lander. The Septennial laws Bismarck began the ‘Alliance of Steel
scapegoat to end the kulturkampf- along with A national postal and was produced as a and Rye’ and the NL ended up
the arrival of a more liberal pope. telegraph system compromise. splitting.
,Bismarck and Socialism Treatment of national minorities
In 1875, the SDP was created, its constitution Bismarck supported Germanisation, so German was the only language used in education, commerce and in
being Marxists and supported a socialist society. the law-courts.
In 1877, it had only 12 seats but this was 6x the During the kulturkampf, the Polish Catholic Cardinal was imprisoned, leaving the Poles without a religious
amount socialist parties had gained in the 1871 leader for 12 years.
election. Germans were encouraged to buy Polish farms in east Prussia with the help of state loans.
Two assassination attempts on the Kaiser’s life in 34,000 Poles and Jews were expelled by Bismarck whom he claimed had crossed illegally into Germany
1878 by socialists spurred Bismarck on to attack despite protest from the Reichstag.
socialism and persuaded the Reichstag that the In North Schleswig, German was the only language permitted in schools and a promise to hold a plebiscite to
SPD was a national problem. decide if the area belongs to Germany or Denmark was abandoned.
The Anti-Socialist Law of 1878 supressed socialist Pro-French people were encouraged to leave Alsace-Lorraine, resulting in 400,000 people leaving between
ideas but did not outright ban the SPD. 1870 and 1914.
The law banned socialist organisations such as Bismarck was not necessarily anti-Semitic but was happy to turn against the Jews if it would gain support
trade unions, banned socialist meetings and from political parties, such as the Zentrum who did not like the Jews due to their Catholic background.
publications and there was an increase of police
raids on suspected socialist meetings, penalties
including fines, imprisonment and hard labour Political developments in 1890’s
were enforced for anyone breaking the law. Wilhelm I died, then Friedrich III died 99 days later, then Wilhelm II became Kaiser.
The Anti-Socialist laws caused the cabinet, civil Bismarck resigned in 1890 due to disagreements with the Kaiser and also pressure from the Kaiser.
service, and Prussian Landtag to be purged of all The 90’s saw Caprivi and Hohenlohe as chancellors who were mainly used as figureheads for the Kaiser.
liberal sympathisers in 1880. Wilhelm II took much stronger control over the German empire compared to his grandfather and clashed
15,000 socialist activists were imprisoned and with Bismarck due to this.
exiled and the SPD struggled to contest in the The Zentrum in 1898 grew to the largest party with 102 seats- conservatives the 2nd largest with 79 seats.
1881 elections, one member standing for 35 The National Liberals had fallen ton only 46 seats, compared to 125 seats in 1871.
different constituencies.
However, the socialists in the long term where Bismarck and Wilhelm II
able to broaden it appeal as a non-revolutionary Wilhelm and Bismarck disagreed over many key issues, such as
party and industrial workers turned to support Bismarck wanting to control policymaking whereas Wilhelm
them.
Bismarck in Power: believed in personal rule and reducing the power of the Minister-
By 1890, SPD party membership was at 1.5 1871-1890 President of Prussia.
million. Bismarck wanted to repress socialism while Wilhelm was more
The SPD also encouraged trade unions for the sympathetic and believed he could win over the industrial
workers and by 1890, there were 278,000 workers.
members who belonged to trade unions. Bismarck wanted closer connections to Russia, whereas Wilhelm
On the positive, ‘state socialism’ was introduced favoured Austria.
to combat socialism by Bismarck, this including Wilhelm believed Bismarck had lost touch with reality and
medical security in 1883, accident insurance in rejected his plan for two new bills for another Anti-Socialist law
1884 and old age pensions in 1889. and for an increase of 125,000 men in the army.
Some workers were enthusiastic but others felt They both also argued over who ministers should approach first-
like it was a ‘sham’ and the liberals were against the Kaiser or the Chancellor
the idea. Wilhelm eventually forced Bismarck to resign in 1890.
,Caprivi 1890-1894 Hohenlohe 1894-1900
Had served in the wars of German Was 75 when he became chancellor and was selected since he posed no political threat to those around the Kaiser, the
Unification and was intelligent with Kaiser describing him as his ‘straw doll’- though he did push for the 1894 Subversion Bill and 1899 Anti-Union bill to
progressive views however, he found combat socialism but both were rejected by the Reichstag.
it difficult to control the Reichstag. Wilhelm started to focus on Weltpolitik or world politics instead of domestic issues and ignored his chancellor, this
Caprivi wanted an end to the Anti- including expansion of foreign policy, colonial expansion, and the development of the navy- Wilhelm and others such as
Socialist laws, more influence over Admiral von Tirpitz believed Weltpolitik had the power to unite people and to overcome the difficulties that the
policymaking for ministers, a Reichstag was facing.
reduction in tariffs, and social reforms- Wilhelm’s circle also favoured Sammlungspolitik, the policy of ‘bringing together’ which deliberately fostered nationalist
this including the recognition of trade sympathies to oppose socialism and the demands of the working class.
unions, reduction in working hours Right-wing pressure groups emerged as a result of this, such as the Navy League 1898 with 500,000 members or the
and progressive income tax. Army League 1912 with 300,000 members.
He refused the renewal of the A disagreement between Wilhelm and Hohenlohe over colonial policy gave Hohenlohe the excuse to resign.
Reinsurance Treaty with Russia,
breaking the treaty Bismarck created Bulow 1900-1909
and satisfying the Kaiser’s wishes. German Political Developments Bulow adored the Kaiser and wanted to please him.
Caprivi refused to renew the Anti-
Socialist laws however, after the 1893
1890-1914 Bulow abandoned the aggressive anti-socialist
Sammlungspolitik but still wanted to appeal to patriotism,
elections in which the socialists’ seats introducing in 1902 a new tariff law that restored duties on
grew, Wilhelm decided an Anti- Bethmann-Hollweg 1909-1917
agricultural products and a few key manufactures, this
Socialist Subversion Bill was needed, Hollweg allowed the Kaiser to take control over
increasing revenue for the developing navy but still fell short
which Caprivi disagreed with. military and foreign affairs.
of what the Agrarian League demanded.
In 1893, Caprivi introduced a bill to Hollweg had to budget the military while at the
Social reforms such as extending health and accident
reduce military service from 3 to 2 same time put with demands from the left.
insurance and new rulers for the arbitration of industrial
years and to allow the Reichstag to Introduction of universal male suffrage at 21
disputes- but the socialist got credit so SPD votes rose in
discuss the military budget every 5 was introduced in 1911.
1903.
years instead of 7. 1912 elections 1/3 of Germans voted for SPD,
Secret ballot 1904 and payment for Reichstag Deputies 1906
In return, the Reichstag passed a bill to now the largest party in the Reichstag.
was introduced so everyone could become Reichstag
increase the size of the army by 1913 the Reichstag passed a large increase to
ministers.
84,000 men- this being a humiliating the size of the army but only because it was
However, Bulow failed to control the Reichstag and the
surrender to the conservatives. funded by a ‘special defence tax’ on the value
approval needed for the Kaiser’s military spending could not
The Agrarian League was set up in of property.
be met and the new tariffs were looked down upon and if
1893 with 250,000 members who Conservatives hated this along with hating
Bulow tried to enforce increased taxes, the SPD and the
were Junkers but many were inheritance tax which they stopped.
Zentrum would oppose them.
smallholders and tenant farmers. 1913 Hollweg lost a vote of no confidence but
The Hottentot election in 1907 led to Bulow barely winning
The Agrarian League wanted to the Kaiser overruled it, resulting in Hollweg to
through the new coalition ’Bulow Bloc’ with members from
protect agricultural interests and to stop working with the Reichstag and he would
the Conservatives, Agrarian League and Liberals to avoid
lobby for tariff protection to help issue imperial decrees without consultation or
reliance on the Zentrum.
Farmers. approval.
National debt had doubled between 1900 and 1908 and
His downfall was due to his The Zarbern affair meant that there was an
arguments over increased taxation or inheritance taxes broke
disagreements with the Kaiser and the outcry against militarism both in the Reichstag
out in the Reichstag and along with the Daily Telegraph Affair,
people surrounding the Kaiser. and the country but was ultimately ignored.
Bulow resigned.
, Reichstag: Economic Trends Wilhelm II
After 1890, the SPD were well due the lapsing of Economic growth began at political unification, a massive booster being Was 27 when
the Anti-Socialist Laws and party conferences - through the £200 million France were made to pay and the currency reform in he took power
attended and demanded for the abolition of class 1871 provided easy credit for industrial growth. in 1890.
rule, equal rights and use of income tax, property From 1871-73 the economy grew 5% per year until the world trade recession He was full of
tax and inheritance tax for government revenue or the great depression, which affected German industry overtime and only energy and
were publicised. recovered in 1894. ambition but
However, the SPD became moderate in outlook as By 1914, industrial industry represented 45% of GNP with a growth rate of was also
August Bebel and others believed in ‘gradual 4.5% per year. moody.
socialism’ to achieve long-term goals whereas In 1871 Germany exported 29.4 million of tons of coal but in 1913, 192 million Obsessed with
revolutionist such as Rosa Luxemburg + Karl was exported. the army and
Liebknecht still existed but weren’t as popular. German economic growth is credited to raw materials such as coal from the wanted to
Government attempts to combat socialists through Ruhr, a highly developed education system, German banks were free from control the
Sammlungspolitik just prevented compromise and state control and invested heavily in industrial research and economic government but
split German Society into two opposing extremes. development. couldn’t be
The Zentrum is the Catholic Centre Party who were Industrial revelations such as Rudolf Diesel’s 25 horsepower engine and actually
united to protect the Church but were divided on emergence of companies such as Krupp’s. bothered.
other issues due to mix of social classes. The best word
The liberals drew support from wealthier middle is narcissistic.
International Trade
classes and business but their divisions grew even Political, Social, Cultural, Germany sold
further until 1910 when the left Liberals and the Agriculture
Progressives joined forces as the Progressives Economic, Ideological trends chemicals, metal German forestry
People’s Party. 1871-1914 goods, machinery, employed more people
The National liberals on the right opposed socialism textiles, and coal- than the entire chemical
and favoured expansionist foreign policy which the profits helped industry, Junkers
brought them closer to the conservatives while the Economic Success pay for imports of producing rye and beet
left liberals and progressives were more The length of railway networks grew food and raw while smaller peasant
oppositional, seeking social reform and extension from 41,820 km in 1890 to 63,000 in materials. holdings produced
of Reichstag power. 1913. In 1913, exports cereals, fruit, vegetables,
The German Conservatives and Free Conservatives The navy remained ¼ of the size of had risen to wine and livestock.
were anti-socialist and anti-democratic- the former Britain’s. £495M compared However, there were
being Prussian Junkers and military officers while Germany alone produced 1,402,000 to 1880 at £152M. heavy ‘protective tariffs’
the latter attracted non-Prussian landowners and tons of sulphuric acid in 1907. 60% of German which were raised under
the industrial elites. Electrical energy production increased exports went to Bulow- they prevented
They normally supported the Kaiser’s policies and 150% between 1901 and 1915. Britain, France, cheap Russian and
could often rely on the NL for support- and were Germany exported £11 million-worth and Russia while American grain imports
supported by pressure groups such as the Pan- of electrical goods while Britain and the rest went to but kept food prices
German League, Agrarian League and Naval the USA combined was only £8 the ‘informal artificially high for
League. million. empire’ or Latin Germans.
They had direct influence on policymaking such as A lot of Germany’s economic success America, South Synthetic foods were
the Pan-German League who opposed all reformist came from the Kaiser’s drive for the Africa, and the introduced which
policies and called for suppression of the SPD. glory of Weltpolitik. Ottoman Empire. challenged tradition.
