(5) Otto von Bismarck ( 1 April 1815 - 30 July 1898)

Early life
1. Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg grew up in the Prussian province of Saxony, son of a wealthy Junker father and educated mother
Political career:
1. In 1847 aged 32, Bismarck was elected to the newly reactionary Royalist and supported the monarchy of Prussia during the rebellions of 1848
2. He was then elected to the Landtag in 1849
3. At this point, he didn't want German unification. He then spent a number of years in Frankfurt as Prussia's envoy where his political opinions began to change, focussing on the needing to remove Austria as a rivial by allying with other German states
4. He also worked for a time as envoy to the Russian Empire in order to build relationships with them ( which would come in useful in 1871)
Minister president of Prussia:
1. When Wilhelm I became Kaiser, he was struggling to gain unity amongst his ministers and saw Bismarck as capable of handling this crisies so called him back from Russia to become Minister-President
2. He strengthened his relationship with the Kaiser through personality and persuasion and despite being unpopular with the government, the Kaiser kept him in power, partly for fear of a Liberal overtaking of Government!
German Unification:
1. One of the key debates of this period was the unification of Germany, Bismarck emphasised the use of "iron and Blood" (military power) to achieve this
2. The Franco-Prussian War of 1871-2 served as a springboard for negotiations to unify Germany, Bismarck offered concessions to states that agreed quickly and succeeded in placing Kaiser Willhelm I as German Emperor of a federation of 25 states.
3. Then Bismarck was raised to rank of "prince" and Chancellor of the German Empire, whilst also maintaining his positions in Prussia
Chancellor of Germany
1. As Chancellor, Bismarck reformed much of the economy and most memorably, introduced a pioneering welfare state with pensions, insurance and medical care
2. His Foreign Policy involved many diplomatic relations and treaties, most notably the Triple Alliance with Austria-Hungary and Italy in 1882
3. When Wilhelm II became Kaiser after Friedrick III 99 day reign, he clashed with Bismarck's careful foreign relations and favoured and expansionist policy, this clash of ideas eventually led to his resignation in 1890
How does Clarke characterise the relationship between Bismarck and Wilhelm I?
1. Wilhem enjoyed unique personal prestiage, due to the "unification warlord"
2. But the system was single-handedly managed by the Chancellor
3. Wilhelm did simetimes assert himself against Bismarck - he wanted to be well informed about all policy developments
4. Wilhelm I clung to the right of final decision
5. Bismarck had the skill to manipulate the slippery imperial and Prussian system - making him vitually indespensable to the emperor
6. Historian suggest that Bismark would woo, bully and cajole the Kaiser into agreement on most issues of importants
7. When disagrement did happen Bismarck would unleash the full force of his personality with tears, rages and threats of resignation
  1. The Kaiser stated that "It is hard being emperor under Bismarck" and "he is more important than I"
What are the initial signs of consensus between the Kaiser and Bismarck?
1. Following June 15 1888 there was a period of calm
2. The new Monarch and a elderly chancellor a agreeed on a number of important isues
3. The Austrian ambassador reported in july 1888 that "there is a veritable honeymoon of repsect, affection, trust and understanding
4. They were seen together at parliamentary dinners for government-friendly Reichstag factions
What were his main achievements
1. Sickness Insurance Law (1883)
2. Accident Insurance Law (1884)
3. Old age Pensions Law (1889)
4. Unification - Prussian dominance exclusion Austria
5. Constitution
What wasn't Bismarck happy with and how did he act on this
1. The traditional structure of society was changing and there were significant groups the were dissatisfaction with his powerful nationalist German state "war for civilisation" against the Roman Catholic church in 1873. Measures were taken against socialism and its political party, the Social Democratic Party in 1878
When and how did he lose his position
1. 1888, old Kaiser die's - less friendly with Fredrick III Wilhelm II had difference of opinion between chancellor on both political ( massive striking in 1889 Kasier wanted to buy of protest - Bismarck wanted to use military force) and foreign level ( Kaiser wanted a more aggressive imperialism foreign policy disagreed) and personal levels
2. Bismarck resign in 1890
What was his legacy?
1. "Iron chancellor" - forged unification of Germany
2. Germany most powerful state on mainland Europe
3. Those who believe Bismarck day had gone and the New Kaiser should asset his right

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(5) Otto von Bismarck ( 1 April 1815 - 30 July 1898)

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	Created by Marcus Danvers almost 11 years ago