Inept And Unsuccessful. How
'Inept and Unsuccessful'. How Valid is this Comment on Bismarck's handling of Domestic Policy from 1871-90?
From her formal unification at Versailles in 1871, Bismarck, the first German Chancellor, took control of his new German State. Yet twenty years later, the 'Bismarckian era' in German history had ended, culminating in Bismarck's departure. With unification complete at least geographically, by 1871, Bismarck's next challenge lay with domestic policy and the running of the new German constitution.
In the early 1870s, Bismarck relied on the support of the National Liberals in the Reichstag as they were the largest single party. Bismarck acted to strengthen the newly created state in ...
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Following the impact of the 'Great Depression' in Europe, the political basis upon which Bismarck had founded his power was undermined, and so Bismarck was forced to return to more protectionist policies. Added to the fact that in the Balkans there had been split alliances, the National Liberals and Bismarck were further split here. Not only did they oppose his rule of parliament, constitutional rule, but they were opposed to the policy of protectionism that Bismarck proposed, being in favour of free-trade. Bismarck had his reasons; to gain the support of industrialists, landowners, Conservatives and Centre Parties, creating income for the people, and it wasn't an unusual European trend. This shows that such a policy was not of inept thinking or of unskilful judgement. To add to this, Bismarck was successful in carrying out his policy.
Bismarck managed to convince the people at the 1878 election that protectionism was the way forward and subsequently the National Liberals ...
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had his aims and merely tried to establish them, whilst eradicating possible threats to them.
However one could not say that Bismarck was successful in this course of action, backing up the suggested comment. Bismarck had attacked the Catholic Church over the issue of 'Papal Infallibility' by using the press, which was followed by the expulsion of Jesuits. In 1873, Bismarck passed anti-Catholic legislation better known as the 'May Laws', which included state control of the Church and clerical appointments, with civil marriages made compulsory; another attack on the Church. Yet the campaign had the opposite effect, strengthening Catholic morale, so that in the 1874 election their ...
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Inept And Unsuccessful. How. (2007, September 21). Retrieved December 23, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Inept-And-Unsuccessful-How/71532
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"Inept And Unsuccessful. How." Essayworld.com. September 21, 2007. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Inept-And-Unsuccessful-How/71532.
"Inept And Unsuccessful. How." Essayworld.com. September 21, 2007. Accessed December 23, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Inept-And-Unsuccessful-How/71532.
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