What problems faced Bismarck in Germany in the period 1871-1890, and how successful was he in dealing with them?

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What problems faced Bismarck in Germany in the period 1871-1890, and how successful was he in dealing with them?

W.M Simon suggests that “…what Bismarck prided himself on was his ability to overcome tensions as they arose, not a capacity to stop them appearing” The problems facing Bismarck in Germany during this period can be seen as three fold. First we can identify that there were significant political problems which developed in Bismarck’s Germany. Secondly there were religious and cultural aspects which arose causing further problem to Bismarck. Finally the third and most critical problem facing Bismarck was the economic and social problems that had arisen in the new united Germany following the wars of independence and leading to an economic depression in 1873.

The first problem which can be identified regarding political significant was the strength of the Prussian state. Bismarck’s Germany had been unified under Prussia. The Prussian state dominated the new founded ‘empire’ remaining unchanged and self governed under the Kaiser. The powers within the Prussian council had the ability to veto any new proposals set out by the new federal council or what was known as the Bundesrat. It is fair to say that Prussia had nothing to fear from the opposition from smaller states due to its overwhelming dominance in the Reichstag.

E.J Passant quotes that “…the constitution of 1871 makes clear the conservative nature of the new Prusso-German Empire”. Bismarck’s first problem regarding the new dominated Prussian Reichstag which controlled three fifths of the parliament was the new implementation of universal manhood suffrage. This gave rise to both misunderstandings and inner conflicts. Bismarck’s main problem was to satisfy both the Prussian Junkers and the allies he had found in the National-Liberals whilst unifying Germany between 1866 and 1870.

However he was more determined to “…maintain the power of the monarchy and its ruling classes…” However Bismarck’s period 1870 to 1878 has been regarded as his ‘liberal period’. It is referred to this because during this time he relied on National-Liberal votes to pass domestic policies. He did this principally because he realised that a minimum concession to liberalism was need to complete the unification process without the conservative-monarchical institutions of Prussia being ousted. His problem therefore lay with him having to satisfy the National-liberal allies he had gained and yet remain loyal to his fellow Junkers and conservative friends.

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Bismarck was extremely cunning in how he solved this problem. He did so by finding a common cause. Both Prussia under the Kaiser and Bismarck as well as the national-liberals wanted a unified Germany that would be effective. The common cause Bismarck used to manipulate his relationship with the National-liberal party was the Kulturkampf policy.

The catholic based Center party or Zentrum under Ludwig Windhorst, had opposed Bismarck’s kleindeutsch unification since 1859. The center party identified itself with polish representation drawing wide electoral support and able to be officially recognized as the second largest political party in ...

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