Germany under Bismarck 1871-90

Created by: GalleyGirl
Created on: 02-04-17 21:15

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Germany under Bismark 1871-90
- Domestic
  - Maintain conservative Germanic (Prussian) nationalism.
    - 'Germanizatiogovernment tried to 'germanize' states national minorities. Especially ruthless towards Poles.
    - Kulturkampf 1871, felt since population expanded and one 1/3 Catholicism growing threat. Especially as party became largest in Reichstag
      - Many Bishops and Priests exiled, 1872 Jesuits exiled, 1873 May Laws- curtailed disciplinary powers of church, all religious appointments subject to state approval.1875 civil ceremonies required for weddings.
        Kulturkampf stopped in 1878, Bismarck alarmed as secularists and socialists use to attack all religion. Also needed Catholic Centre Party votes in battle against Socialism.
    - Socialism growing among working classes, unhappy with falling living standards. Worried Bismark
      - 1878- Anti-Socialist Laws. Meetings forbidden, leaders arrested. But socialists ran as independent candidates, support continued to grow.
        So in 1880's created social insurance programs. old age pensions, accident insurance, medical care and unemploymen insurance!
        Won support of industry, gained support of workers and reduced emigration rates to America. And won support of Centre Party.
- Foreign relations
  - Keep France isolated to avoid war on two fronts, improve general diplomatic relations.
    - Russia
      - 1873- Dreikaiserbun League of three emperors.
        Austria
        Dual alliance 1879
        
        Triple alliance 1882 (with Italy) Also made Mediterranea agreement/
        Britain pleased as limited Russian expansionism
      - 1978- Treaty of Berlin. After Russia's victory over Ottoman Empire
        Bismarck and other European leaders worried by growth of Russian influence. Strained relations.
      - Relations strained due to German protectionist trade policies.
        Dreikaiserbun fell apart.
        Bismarck and other European leaders worried by growth of Russian influence. Strained relations.
        
        So to avoid encirclement, Bismarck made Reinsurance Treaty of 1887 (wouldn't go to war unless G. attacked France or R. attacked Austria)
    - Austria
      - Dual alliance 1879
      - Triple alliance 1882 (with Italy) Also made Mediterranea agreement/
        Britain pleased as limited Russian expansionism
    - Colonialism
  - Was against colonialism, viewed as economic drain and pointless antagonism. But under public and elite pressure, did expand empire a bit in Africa.
- Economic
  - Alsace-Lorraine is Europe’s largest Iron Ore Deposits+ French indemnity payments= Boom in Germany's economy.
    - Banks provide capital for new railways (double in number), electricity, chemicals etc.
    - National currency introduced Reich bank created Standardisati
  - Bismark wanted to manage economy, to maintain economic growth and expand strength
    - 1873- Long depression in Europe and America. Downturn hit the German economy
      - 1879- to aid faltering industries instead of free trade Bismark uses established protectionist tariffs (taxes on imports protecting German agriculture and industry from foreign competitors)
      - Banks and larger businesses survived the crisis – industrializati and urbanization continued to increase
        But Liberals displeased by Protectionist policies.
- Political
  - Very conservative, leading positions nearly always held by Prussian junker (elite)
  - Control the Reichstag
- Military
  - 80% of federal expenditure on army
  - Army essentially Prussian all loyal to Prussian Kaiser

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Germany under Bismarck 1871-90

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