The Age of Bismarck (1871—1890)

German Empire

• Bismarck dominated European diplomacy• Established an integrated political and economic

structure for the new German state• Society based on industrialism, militarism, and

innovative social legislation• Remarkable increases in productivity and

industrialization occurred between 1871 and 1891

Domestic Reform• Established a strong, united German state prepared

to defend against France• Developed universal German civil and criminal codes• Established imperial bank• Required compulsory military service• Used protective tariffs to protect German production• Response to socialism: Provided social security,

regulated child labor, and improved working conditions for Germans

Bismarck Attacks (P3-5)

Attack on Catholics Attack on Socialists

Bismarck as Chancellor• Bismarck’s Kulturkampf placed repression on groups within Germany

that Bismarck found subversive• Bismarck thought Catholics allegiance was to the Church and not the

state• Eventually made peace with the Catholics

• Socialism was gaining support• Bismarck had laws passed forbidding socialist meetings, BUT socialism

gained more support• Bismarck began to pass reforms to please socialist like workmen’s

compensation, old-age pensions, and medical protection

Bismarck’s Fall• Wilhelm II assumed the throne in 1888• Believed in divine right• Resented Bismarck’s power

• 1890 Bismarck dismissed• Legacy of Bismarck:• Masterful diplomat: created strong alliances with Austria-

Hungary and Italy• Germany became strongest, industrial country in Europe• Failed to reestablish relations with Russia after the

Congress of Berlin• Wilhelm II will pursue an aggressive foreign policy that will

upset the balance of power into the start of WWI

Social Democrats and Revisionism in Germany• Bismarck represses German Social Democratic Party (SPD)• anti-socialist laws passed by Reichstag actually strengthen the

numbers of the (SPD)• passes programs such as accident insurance, disability and old age

pensions as a conservative alternative to socialist policies• The Erfurt Program – supported Marxist ideas of the

collapse of capitalism, but wanted to pursue goals through legislative action, not revolution• Revisionism – German socialists ideas of achieving

humane social equality without having a revolution founded by Eduard Bernstein• critics of Revisionism felt that evolution towards socialism

would not work in militaristic, authoritative Germany

The Impact of Socialism on the 19th Century• Due to industrialization across Europe, the demands of

workers became major political/economic issues that spawned revolts in Britain, France, Germany, and Russia

• By the end of the 19th century, labor unions which were once illegal were accepted across Europe

• 1864—the First International Working Men’s Association met in London under the leadership of Karl Marx• Preached destruction of the capitalists gov’ts of Europe

• In 1871 when the Paris Commune (socialist) took over Paris, Marx thought the long-awaited class war was beginning, BUT it was crushed by the new republic

• The First International soon faded away.

Socialism in Europe• Second International formed in 1889• Socialist Parties in Europe• BritainFabian Society• RussiaSocial Democratic Party• French opportunism• GermanySocial Democratic Party

• Reforms based on demands of workers• Old-age compensation• Safety and sanitation regulations• Work hours regulation• Medical insurance for workers• Universal male suffrage across most of Europe