Bismark's Reforms

One result of the Franco-Prussia War of 1870 was the creation of the German Empire. Otto von Bismark was the father of this German unification, and created the first German kaiser, William I. With himself as chancellor of Germany, Bismark carried out various reforms to create his dream antisolcialist empire. These reforms greatly affected the livelihood of the German princes, all the way down to the working classes.

To win popular support for his reforms, Bismark exploited existing democratic and socialist sentiment. He demanded that members of the Reichstag, the lower chamber, be elected by universal male suffrage. Using this provision to his advantage, Bismark usually tried to keep the majority of the Reichstag on his side, but he upheld the doctrine that the emperor and his chancellor governed the country. Moreover, the legislative powers of the lower house were severely restricted, and the upper chamber, representing the princes, tended to be more important. Because of this, the Prussian conservatives, the East-Elbian Junker landlords, were not enthusiastic over a unified Germany. These conservatives opposed democratic concessions and were horrified in 1872 when Bismark extinguished what was left of their manorial jurisdiction over their peasants.

Bismark's goals for reform did not end with political matters. The Catholic church spoke out against Bismark's attempts to subordinate all groups within the state to the sovereign power of the new empire. In response to this outburst, Bismark launched the Kulturkampf, to which the Liberals joined in eagerly. The Kulturkampf put restrictions upon Catholic worship and education, and many Catholic bishops throughout Germany were arrested or exiled.

In economics, Bismark dismayed his Liberal allies in 1879 by abandoning free trade and adopting a protective tariff. This tariff provided needed revenues for the government and gave satisfaction both to agricultural and industrial interests.