Week 3 Insiders and Outsiders Revolution from Above

Week 3: Insiders and Outsiders

“Revolution from Above” Last Week: The forces for unification from below The completion of formal unification from above The unfinished business of creating Germans This Week: Strategies for inclusion & exclusion The gradual process of greater unity

Enemies Within: Enemies of the Empire • Centre Party • Social Democrats • Ethnic Minorities

Kulturkampf, 1870 s Barring Jesuits from the Empire

The Kulturkampf 1870: The doctrine of Papal Infallibility published. 1872: Catholic schools brought under state control. The Jesuit Order banned from Germany. 1873: The ‘May Laws’ – Only candidates for ordination who had been trained in Germany and passed a state approved examination could become priests. – All religious appointments had to be approved by the state. 1874: Civil marriage introduced. 1875: All religious orders except nursing orders banned. Cranium measurements became a popular means of proving the hereditary nature of papal stupidity

Enemies Within: Social Democrats August Bebel

The Development of the SPD • 1869: August Bebel and Wilhelm Liebknecht form the Marxist Social Democratic Workers’ Party. • 1875: This merges with Ferdinand Lassale’s General German Workers’ Association to form the Social Democratic Party of Germany (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, SPD) at a ‘Unity Conference’ in Gotha. • The party’s ‘Gotha Programme’ (1875) of the SPD called for: • “universal, direct, equal suffrage, with secret ballot and obligatory voting for all citizens over 20 years of age” • freedom of press, association and assembly • the abolition of child & female labour • a shorter working week • free, universal primary education

Anti-Socialist Legislation • • • 1876: Legislation banning the publication of Socialist propaganda defeated in the Reichstag. 1878: Two failed assassination attempts on Wilhelm I provide an opportunity to introduce anti. Socialist legislation. Oct 1878: The Anti-Socialist Law passed by the Reichstag: – Banned socialist organizations (including trade unions) – Gave the police powers to break up socialist meetings – Outlawed the publication and distribution of socialist literature

State Socialism Innovative social insurance policies that failed to workers from SPD or successfully tackle growing social and economic problems: • 1883: Sickness Insurance Act – Provided medical treatment and up to 13 weeks sick pay for 3 million low-paid workers. • 1884: Accident Insurance Act – Provided protection for workers permanently disabled or sick for more than 13 weeks. • 1889: Old Age & Disability Act – Provided old age and disability pensions for people over 70 and those permanently disabled.

Enemies Within: Minorities • Poles • Danes • Alsatians

Enemies Within: Jews? • Legally, German Jews had equality before the law. • Central Union of German Citizens of the Jewish Faith est. to prove Jewish loyalty to the empire.

Enemies Within: Degenerates? • Criminally Insane • Alcoholics • “Degenerate” Urban Dwellers

Assessment Bismarck’s Admirers Bismarck’s Critics • • He maintained peace between 1871 and 1890 His policies helped Germany’s economic development He pioneered state socialism In the 1870 s he worked closely with the National Liberals and implemented many liberal policies He was not a dictator – his powers were limited and he worked with the parties in the Reichstag His long tenure in power points to his political skill • • • He was responsible for France remaining isolated and embittered His influence has been exaggerated “Negative integration” – using attacks on minorities to whip up patriotism The Kulturkampf was a major miscalculation His anti-socialist policies were unsuccessful He was unable to delegate and jealous of perceived rivals A flawed legacy – Bismarck’s rule led to Wilhemine & Nazi Germany

Questions for Reading • How did social/regional divisions affect the new nation? • In what ways were these divisions new or manipulated from above? • In what ways were they part of people’s lived experience?

1888 – The Year of Three Emperors Wilhelm I (1861 -88) Friedrich III (1888) Wilhelm II (1888 -1918)

Wilhelm II, 1859 -1941 “I shall let the old man shuffle on for six months. . . then I shall rule myself. ”

‘Dropping the Pilot’ • • Bismarck and Wilhelm disagreed over the need to retain close links with Russia. They clashed over social policy and the Anti-Socialist Law. In March 1890 Bismarck and Wilhelm quarrelled over ministers access to the monarch. Wilhelm gave Bismarck an ultimatum: resign or be dismissed. The next day Bismarck resigned.