Bismarck Research Paper

"Bismarck was a past master in the diplomatic arts." W. Carr

Otto von Bismarck was a significant figure who put his stamp on his age, as only few have done before him. He remains one of the most important, influential and powerful political character of modern Germany. After victorious wars with Denmark, France and Austria on January 18th, 1871 a new German Empire, which included the southern Germany states, was built. The King of Prussia became German Emperor. Bismarck was awarded the title of Prince and was appointed as Reichskanzler and his main aim was to unify German states under Prussian role. When added to his Prussian positions (premier, foreign minister, and minister of commerce) the imperial chancellorship gave him almost complete control of foreign and domestic policy. The system was described at the time as a ‘chancellor dictatorship'. Bismarcks iron man image and unique personality was a major factor in German development. He did all that he could to achieve his aims. There were no borders in ways in which he tried to succeed. Did he succeed?
Bismarck's goals were very strict and obvious. Firstly he wanted to strengthen the role of Prussia within German States. It was the basis to make his position
stronger. It was simple to achieve it because of no necessary changes. Bismarck uphold the veto which was posiible for Prussia in Bundesrat. He wanted to unify the country by lots of policy and law settlements, reorganization in law system and reforms. He tried to isolate ideology from politics. As a Imperial Chancellor had possibility to decide upon policy. Thanks to alliances made in deliberate and considered way he maintain status – quo in whole Europe with Germany as an Imperium. His smart and clever decisions upon people and organisations which are suitable to cope with made him comprehensive ruler of the Reich and pulled him through to aims achievement. His general ideological orientation and political commitments, his position on constitutional issues and representative government, his views on place of Prussia and Germany in Europe were the most distinctive parts of his policy.
Almost everything what he did inside the Reich was connected with strengtening the central power. He also didn't want to make political and religious issues mixed. First way of gaining what he wanted were suitable changes in the Reich policy. Firstly, despite of his conservative roots Bismasck was connected with the National Liberals. Together they move Germany toward free trade. He gone to war against conservative regimes and worked the Reich up to rapid industrialization. He also developed a central bank, a common currency and commercial and civil law for whole Germany. As a part of his goal achieving plan, of unification he ‘opened the borders' inside the Reich. He also started to fight with the problem of minorities. The state created by Bismarck was a curiously disunited entity. He tried to do everything to unite all people by laws, plebiscites.
Later, in coalition with liberals who were violently anticrelical, he introduced the Kulturkampf. Why? As he said – ‘It is not a matter of the conflict between belief and unbelief. It is a matter of the conflict between monarchy and prosthood.' Koulturkamp origins also lay in the Papal Infallibility. Otto von Bismarck decided to subdue any party that offered to challenge his policies. All Roman Catholics, who tended to oppose a centralized state were subjected to ‘struggle of civilisations'. He did not accept minorities, which were called by him as ‘enemies of people'. Most notorious of Kulturkampf were the ‘May Laws' introduec in 1872 by adalbert Falk – a set of laws aimed directly at decreasing the influence which the German Catholic Church wanted to have. They brought the education under state control and put restrictions upon Clergy. Bismarck's way of dealing with Catholics was very strong and determined, of why he was called as a ‘Iron Chancellor'. The results of Kulturkampf were different than chancellor predicted. Struggle did much to demage his earlier work of unification, German Catholics were more sympathetic to Papal authority. Contacts and good relations with Austria weakened. After 1878 Bismarck initiated a significant change in economic policy. New way of activity was a result of the ‘great depression' along the Europe and United Staes. He turned to the Catholic Centre Party for support. All was about the protectionism. There was a big problem of cheep food from overseas. The liberals stood for free trade and cheap food, the conservatives demanded trade tariffs. What is obvious conservatives who mainly came from the Junker land owning class stood to lose a great deal if there were no tariffs brought in.
Bismarck, a Junker himself brought the tariffs in. What is important Nismarck also wanted by this step to make Germany more self- sufficient in food production in case of future war. Results of breaking with liberals were different. Food prices rose causing hardship.
Without foreign competition Germany industry and agriculture thrived. Employment rose as did wages. Iron, coal, and steel production rose. Next step was the unwritten war with socialism which policies collided with those of conservative Bismarck. ‘They are this country's rats and should be exterminated' –he said. Warried about the growing power of socialists and social democracy, also in opposition with them upon the ideological issues he introduced anit socialist laws which e.g. prohibited socialist propaganda, closed socialists newspapers. He did not ban the Social Democratic Party directly but restrained organisation by banning any meetings aimed to propagate socialist principles etc. Next step was to introduce ‘state socialism' programme which was to improve the conditions of workers. He gave the sick pay and possibility to take old-age pensions for workers after 70 years. In spite of all socialists interpreted it as a fraud and gave their support to the left. Once again bismarck achieved what he wanted only in some case. Bismarkian foreign policy was a exaple of ideal balance of the smart alliances. His aim was to maintain status – quo. The key in Bismarsk's view to German interests laid in good relations with Russia and Austria.
The main aims were based around the need to keep France isolated. He wanted to prevent wars and in case of war to be prepared or simply safe. First alliance was made between Germany, Austria and Russia in 1872 and it was called Dreikaiserbund. The aim was to stop the spread of revolution in Europe. For the Chancellor it was natural union of conservative ideas against nationalism and socialism. It declared aid to any power attacked by a fourth power. Russia and Austria – Hungary not available as an ally for france. It was simple to prevented conflict between Autria – Hungary and Russia in Eastern
Question. Second one – Dual alliance (1879) was signed between Ausrtia – Hungary and Germany. It was an aid for the one of them in the event of Russia attack and neutrality in case of attack from other power. The last one – Reinsuarance Traty, signed only with Russia, in secret. It was about remaining neutral in the event of dispute with the third power. In this way Ottovon Bismarck make Germany safe and the only power to decision in case of war. Great move in the whole European history. Thanks to Bismarckian logical thinking and forecast Germany was able to feel free. The same great abbilities Bismarck has shown during Congress of Berlin. The ‘War in sight Crisis' alarmed him. He wanted to prevent war between Austrai and Russia which could involve Germany so he offered to act as a honest broker. Results lef Russia dissapointed, and it could be the only Bismarck's mistake in this event. The last point is how Bismarck was able to find the supporters. Despite of his worries about colonisation he finally decided to take part in this race. After the pressure form the site of industrialists who were his supporters, he decided to forme German Colonial Ligue. The colonies in total were about five times the size of Germany. But as Bismarc predicted they were of only little value, because the best places were taken by Britain and other powers. Famously he said to an African explorer – ‘my map of Africa lies in Europe. Here is Russia and here is France with Germany in the middle; this is my map of Africa'. Bismarck did what he could do to achieve his aims. He prevented formation of any hostile coalition against the Reich and obtained for ‘his country' recognition of it's great power status. His skills e.g. during the Congress of Berlin had led Europe to twenty years of peace and solved many colonial disputes. His work was considered and he showed his unussual inteligence. He faild in keeping Austria and Russia in good terms, the Kulturkampf had unexpected causes, colonies weren't profitable but it wans't all by his mistakes. To sum up it is important to say that he was very flexible, rogoristic and had the talent to combining thanks to what he effectively kept opposition under control. He wasn't affraid of anything during making his decisions. He wanted to achieve aims – and it was also his goal. He did everything he could to make Germany strong. In spite of mistakes he was just a ‘past master in diplomatic arts'

pauline.m.