HIST2128
Germany, 1871-1933: From Empire to Republic
Bismarck’s domestic policy,
1871-9
Lecture 7
14 January 2012
Bismarck as Conservative
• Struggled vs. forces trying to change political
system + questioning his powers as Chancellor
• Divided German nation into ‘enemies of the
empire’ (Reichsfeinde) + ‘loyalists of the empire
(Reichstreue) = His ‘nightmare of revolutions’
• Tried to keep political parties powerless
• Banned critical thinkers + discouraged constructive
political cooperation
Bismarck and Reichstag
Bismarck’s constant need as Imperial chancellor to find new Reichstag
majorities to support his policies + to avoid blockade of government:
• Provoked crisis + fear of revolution by “Reichsfeinde”
• Called parties to fight ‘subversives’ (“Reichsfeinde”)
• Dissolved Reichstag in self-created crises
• Launched press campaigns vs. opponents
• Used elections as plebiscite for monarchical rule
• Threatened with coup d’etat in order to change Imperial constitution to
gain more authoritarian power
Negative Integration
•
Manipulative strategy of Bismarck?
= To cooperate with Liberals ?
•
Reflex of Bismarck’s fears and mistrusts?
= To weaken Catholics Austria-orientation ?
= To fight rivalling C. Church + Centre Party ?
Target groups:
1) Catholics + Centre Party → Kulturkampf
2) Poles / Danes / Alsatians → Language discrimination
3) Socialists + SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany)
→ ‘Anti-Socialist Law’, 1878
Catholic System (1)
• Pre-1789: Strong position in Catholic states (Fr, Sp, It, Au,
W Ger)
• Post-1789: Anti-clerical feelings + anti-church laws +
destruction of infrastructure = strongly weakened
position
• Post-1815: Competition with other religions & ideologies
(esp. Protestantism & liberalism)
• Post-1870: European Kulturkampf (cultural struggle)
• Around 1900: Deep crisis & pessimism due to fundamental
changes in societies
Catholic System (2)
• Opposed to Protestantism, liberalism,
socialism, radicalism
• Defended Catholic educational system
against critics
• Fought Kulturkampf (cultural struggle)
between ‘good’ & ‘bad’ (secular, liberal,
reformist, modern principals) in Fr, Au,
Sp, It, Ger, NL, GB
Kulturkampf, 1872-78 (1)
‘Cultural struggle’ = Conflict Church vs. State:
• 2/3 Protestants, 1/3 Catholics (Poles, French,
Rhinelanders, southern Germans):
→ Ultramontanism ?
• Syllabus of Errors by Pius IX, 1864: Strongly antiliberal
• Doctrine of papal infallibility, 1870: Fear of liberals
of Catholic interference in society
Kulturkampf, 1872-78 (2)
Centre Party, 1870:
• 2nd largest party in Reichstag election 1871
• Unique in drawing support from all social strata
• Favoured greater self-rule for federal states
• Objected state interference in education =
Church’s traditional influence sphere
Kulturkampf, 1872-78 (3)
Bismarck’s politics:
• Saw Centre Party as danger for unity of Empire
• Intensified campaign vs. Catholic Church to
subordinate Church to state
• Put himself at head of popular Protestant
movement supported by National Liberals
+ Conservatives
Kulturkampf, 1872-78 (4)
• 1872: Catholic schools under direct state
supervision
• 1872: Ban of Jesuit order + expel of Jesuit teachers
• 1873: May Laws to bring C. Church under state
control
• 1874: Introduction of civil marriage
• 1875: Laws to empower state to suspend subsidies
to non-complying C. clergy
Kulturkampf, 1872-78 (5)
• Strong opposition in Catholic areas
• Strengthening of Centre Party in Reichstag elections:
1871 (58) → 1878 (94)
• Protestant opposition to some legislation on
education
= Bismarck’s acceptance of failure
= Death of Pius IX 1878 → Improved relations Church-State
= Many May Laws remained in force: Civil marriage, ban
on Jesuits, state supervision of Church appointments
Negative Integration: Results
• Created common identity in victimized
groups
• Alienated certain social groups from State
• Enhanced negative feelings in society
= Few positive short-term effects
= Major negative long-term effects