essay on Bismarck domestic policy in 500 words
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The creation of a large working class led to the growth of socialism. Bismarck saw the socialists as a threat to the social and political unity of the Reich and to Europe. He accused them of being un-German and greatly disliked the international nature of the movement. As Carr notes "Socialism like Catholicism had allegiances beyond the Nation state which Bismarck could neither understand nor tolerate".
In 1869 various socialist groups had joined together to form the Social Democratic Party (SPD). In 1875 at a party congress at Gotha the party drew up its programme. This called for the state to take over industry and the sharing of profits among workers. In 1878 the SPD had twelve seats in the Reichstag (although their representation was greatly underestimated due to the fact that rural constituencies were much smaller than urban ones). There were two attempts on the life of the Kaiser in that year. Using these attacks as an excuse, Bismarck introduced anti socialist laws.
The Anti-Socialist Laws
The Law deprived socialist organisations of the right of assembly and publication (of the 47 socialist newspapers, 45 were banned).
It also gave the government the power to expel persons from their residence who could be described as agitators. Although SPD deputies were allowed to sit in the Reichstag in effect socialism was banned in Germany. All Trade Unions associated with the SPD were also crushed. In 1880 the SPD, now in effect an underground organisation, met in Switzerland to resist Bismarck's measures. A new socialist newspaper was published in Zurich and smuggled into Germany.
Social Welfare Reform
However Bismarck realised that socialism could not be defeated by harsh measures alone. He knew that policies were needed to improve the position of workers in Germany so as to erode support for the socialists. Williamson wrote that he wanted “to reconcile the working classes to the authority of the state.”
In 1883 he introduced a measure that gave compensation to workers during illness.
In 1884 an Accident Insurance law was introduced to compensate workers injured at work. In 1889 an Old Age Pension scheme was introduced for workers over seventy.
Although he failed to curb growing SPD support the measures were very constructive and helped to improve the life of most ordinary Germans. They were twenty years ahead of Britain in the area of Social Welfare. As Massie noted “Bismarck had given the German working class the most advanced social legislation in the World.”
Fall from Power
In 1888 Kaiser William I died and was succeeded by his son Frederick who died of cancer after ninety days. He was succeeded by William II (aged 29) who was determined to assert his authority and take a more active role. In 1889 he received a deputation of striking miners against the advice of the chancellor. The elections of 1890 went badly for Bismarck. He attempted to introduce a new anti-socialist bill. The Bill was defeated in the Reichstag with William II opposed to the law.
Bismarck was beginning to lose control of events and ordered ministers not to see the Kaiser without consulting him first. William demanded that he rescind this order or resign. Bismarck managed to give the impression that he disagreed with the Kaiser on a foreign policy issue and resigned. After Bismarck's resignation (March) the anti-socialist laws were allowed to lapse.
He retired to his estate where he attacked the policies of Kaiser William and his ministers. He hoped to be asked to return to power but the summons never came and he died in 1898.
Assessment
Bismarck was idolised by millions of Germans who rejoiced in his successful policy of unifying Germany. He towered over his contemporaries “a giant among pigmies” (Carr). Like all great men he had his personality defects. He was petty, vindictive and ruthless in his treatment of those who stood in his way.
No other German exerted so profound an influence on German history in the 19th century. When he came to power Germany was a collection of states; when he left office Germany was a united nation feared and respected by the Great Powers.
He undoubtedly committed many blunders especially in his handling of the Church and the working class and his defence of the interests of the Junker class. Yet on the other hand he helped to promote the modernisation of Germany and was responsible for a social welfare system which gave working people some limited stake in the survival of the Empire.
Essay about Bismarck's Domestic Policy Assessment
1989 Words8 Pages
Bismarck's Domestic Policy Assessment
The Kulturkampf was a domestic struggle between the Catholic Church and Otto Von Bismarck and his allies at the time, the German Liberals. Bismarck was the first German chancellor from 1871 to 1890During his time as chancellor he shaped Germany into the state it was before the First World War, bringing about a number of reforms to further the Germany he envisioned. One of the main conflicts Bismarck encountered was with the Catholic Church.The problem of dual loyalty with Germany and papal infallibility, and the threat the well organised Church was to Bismarck, resulted in political war. Bismarck aimed: "to subdue all people, Protesters and Catholics.These proclamations worried Bismarck, but his need of the Catholic southern Germany in the war with France made Bismarck's main concerns was with the growing Catholic vote. After the end of the Franco-Prussian War the regions of Alsace and Lorraine were acquired, this resulted in a very large Catholic population .lsace and Lorraine were acquired, this resulted in a very large Catholic population within Germany, approximately one-third of the population; the establishment of the Catholic Centre Party was a consequence of this. They became the second strongest party in the Reich. Bismarck was opposed to this party and particularly their leader, Ludwig Windthorst. Bismarck objected to the party as it seemed to him to stand for allegiance to an authority other than the national state, a dual loyalty between Catholicism and Germany. It threatened his ideal of a unified Germany. This belief was enforced when the new party won 58 seats in the lower house of the Reichstag, the new imperial parliament. Bismarck believed that the lower, strongly catholic, regions of Germany would look to Catholic Austria above their new sensations of German nationhood.
Unlike the German Liberals Bismarck was not opposed to the Catholic religion, the potential undermining of the Liberals power, for example in church education did not worry him.
One of the most controversial topics of this year is the Dakota pipeline protest, creating conflict between the Sioux tribe and the oil industry. The pipeline is to “be built by Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners and is designed to transport as many as 570,000 barrels of crude oil daily from North Dakota to Illinois.” as stated by Time magazine, Justin Worland. The pipeline would bridge oil wells in the state’s Bakken Shale, where the
divisions between the powers and opposition, especially by Britain, to the use of force to support reactionary rule led to the breakdown of the Congress System. Candidates could decide whether the Congress System was therefore a genuine attempt at unified policy, and whether its failure to be expected because of the diverse interests and nature of the Great Powers. Some may comment that it was perhaps a forerunner of the later European Union, and although there were revolutions .