EURO1004 Chapter Notes - Chapter 20: Social Democratic Party Of Germany, Theobald Von Bethmann-Hollweg, Social Imperialism
CH 20: IMPERIAL GERMANY, 1871-1912
Section A
THE PROBLEMS OF GERMAN HISTORY
•
Three fundamental questions have dominated the study of German history between
1871 and 1914:
1. Why did Germany fail to develop into the kind of parliamentary democracy that
evidently prevailed in France, Britain, Belgium, Holland and the Scandinavian
countries by the end of the 19th century?
2. Germany’s responsibility for WWI and how far that war resulted from the
aggressive policies pursued by German governments in the years leading up to
1914.
o It has been argued that an internal political crisis helped to push Germany into
war in 1914.
3. Whether Germany’s aggressive stance is to be explained by the nature of the
imperial regime and the dilemmas she had to face
o It has been said that Germany’s bid for colonies was a form of ‘social
imperialism’, designed to wean German workers away from the German Social
Democratic Party (SPD)
o It has been said that an aggressive foreign policy was pursued, to unite the
country
GERMAN DOMESTIC HISTORY, 1871-1914
The working of the Imperial Constitution
- Bismarck’s claim to chancellorship was never challenged and he held office for 19
years and his successors were more vulnerable. For instance Bethmann Hollweg
survived two votes of no confidence in 1913, and resigned in 1917 only because he had
lost the confidence of the military ➔ causing an uneasy balance of power between the
Reichstag and the imperial government, but no effective mechanism by which the
government could be changed
- There were no elections to determine who ruled
- As long as imperial governments could rely on the support of the Conservative and
National Liberal parties, it was usually possible for them to get their way
Domestic Policy under Bismarck, 1871-90
- On a day to day level, Bismarck’s main concern was the acquisition and preservation of
power, but that power was to be used – as he said in a 1881 speech “salus populi”, the
good of the people, as he saw it
- In his domestic policies, he was essentially a pragmatist (realist), but if he had a constant
objective it was to preserve and consolidate the empire he had created ➔ meaning
subduing any forces that threatened the unity of that empire, and this explains his
conflicts with Roman Catholicism and socialism. ➔ To him, both were enemies of the
state.
Bismarck and Catholicism
- He once described himself as a “Bible believing Christian, but the enemy of priestly
rule”
- A School Inspection Law was passed in 1872 placing all Catholic schools under lay
(amateur) control
- In 1873 the May Laws were passed laying down the subjects that Catholic priests would
have to study – in 1875 Pop Pius IX threatened with excommunication all who
observed the laws, while Falk (Appointed to Prussian ministry, by Bismarck – he was
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known for his anti-clerical views) responded by suspending or imprisoning those who
refused to accept them. ➔ 1876: 10/12 Prussian bishops were under arrest or in exile
-
Bismarck’s measures had the opposite effect of weakening the Church’s influence –
e.g. the Centre party double its representation in the Landtag in 1873
- Falk resigned in 1879 and bit by bit the May Laws were repealed, the last in 1885 ➔
Catholic bishops and priests were restored to the pots from which they had been
removed
- It was left to Bismarck’s successors to continue the task of winning Catholic support for
the empire
Bismarck and Socialism
- As Bismarck’s hostility to Catholics faded, his fears of Socialism mounted
- May 1878- Bismarck’s first Anti-Socialist Bill was defeated by 251 votes to 57 but in
October 1878 the Anti-Socialist Bill was passed and was a sad reflection on the liberal
credential of the National Liberal party – bill stayed in force until 1890
- Bismarck’s hostility to socialism persisted unabated and in 1890 he attempted to have
the bill renewed and strengthened, but failed
Protection
- Bismarck was also responsible for initiating the move away from
free trade
towards a
policy of
protection –
there were both economic and political reasons for the move
- E.g. German agriculture was threatened by the cheap imports of corn from Russia
- In 1875, 204 votes were cast in the Reichstag urging a policy of protection
- Bismarck hoped to create another source of revenue for the imperial government from
the tariffs he introduced and July 1879, the Tariff law was passed placing duties on
imported corn, cattle, timber and iron while raising the duties on tobacco, salt and
luxury goods.
-
Politically the tariff had more tangible results
– it created an alliance between ‘rye and
steel’, the Prussian landowners and the industrialists of the Ruhr which would prove a
potent combination
-
On the international front –
the introduction of tariffs did nothing to endear Germany
to her neighbours and economic rivals
Social Insurance
- The most creative aspect of Bismarck’s statesmanship was his support for state
sponsored insurance schemes designed to protect the worker against the hazards of ill
health, industrial injury and old age
- As a consequence, Germany had the most advanced system of social welfare in Europe
by 1890 – but Bismarck’s motives were questioned as some argued that he intended on
bribing the working class and undermining the independence of the Reichstag
(parliament)
- Because of Bismarck, three significant measures were passed:
1. 1883 – Sickness Insurance Act
o Provided support for workers who fell ill, employees providing 2/3 and
employers 1/3 of the contributions out of which benefits would be paid
2. 1884 – Accident Insurance Act
o Made employers liable to pay compensation to industrial workers who
were the victims of industrial accidents
3. 1889 – An act was passed providing pensions for all over the age of 70, paid for by
contributions from workers, employers and the state
The change of regime in 1890
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Document Summary
The problems of german history: three fundamental questions have dominated the study of german history between. It has been said that germany"s bid for colonies was a form of social imperialism", designed to wean german workers away from the german social. It has been said that an aggressive foreign policy was pursued, to unite the country. Bismarck"s claim to chancellorship was never challenged and he held office for 19 years and his successors were more vulnerable. For instance bethmann hollweg survived two votes of no confidence in 1913, and resigned in 1917 only because he had lost the confidence of the military causing an uneasy balance of power between the. Reichstag and the imperial government, but no effective mechanism by which the government could be changed. There were no elections to determine who ruled. As long as imperial governments could rely on the support of the conservative and.
