The German Empire's Internal Problems (1871-1890)
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- Date Submitted: 11/02/2010 09:17 AM
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Bismarck’s term as chancellor (1871-1890) of the German Empire endured numerous internal battles revolving around the power of the empire and its rulers. Disagreements regarding the appropriate power of the working class and the role of the church caused turbulence during Bismarck’s term. Bismarck attempted to solve these internal conflicts by catering to each side of the argument at different times, but the disagreements resurfaced.
The internal problems of the German Empire started with the delegation of votes. Bismarck and King Wilhelm I established the German Empire in 1871 and created a hierarchy of government for deciding the laws and conditions of the new government. Bismarck allowed universal manhood suffrage (the right for working, white men) in the lower chamber, or Reichstag, of the legislative body. Bismarck’s decision to allow the lower classes to vote disrupted the peace within the upper chamber, a group of lawmakers composed of upper class men, because the upper chamber did not think that normal, uneducated people should have the power to influence government. Bismarck limited the power of the lower chamber so that average men could vote, but he could overrule them.
The National Liberals restricted the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church , but the Center (a largely Catholic political party) opposed the National Liberals and pressed for the Church to maintain its power. In 1864, a document called the Syllabus of Errors was published. This document observed the government’s inclination to encroach upon religious power and called for change so that the future government would not hinder the church or education. Bismarck, allied with the National Liberals, declared a nominal war (Kulturkampf) in 1871 with the intention of protecting culture and education from the church. With the support of the anticlerical National Liberals, Bismarck passed laws restricting the church’s ability to worship and educate. Bishops of the Catholic faith were arrested and...
The internal problems of the German Empire started with the delegation of votes. Bismarck and King Wilhelm I established the German Empire in 1871 and created a hierarchy of government for deciding the laws and conditions of the new government. Bismarck allowed universal manhood suffrage (the right for working, white men) in the lower chamber, or Reichstag, of the legislative body. Bismarck’s decision to allow the lower classes to vote disrupted the peace within the upper chamber, a group of lawmakers composed of upper class men, because the upper chamber did not think that normal, uneducated people should have the power to influence government. Bismarck limited the power of the lower chamber so that average men could vote, but he could overrule them.
The National Liberals restricted the jurisdiction of the Catholic Church , but the Center (a largely Catholic political party) opposed the National Liberals and pressed for the Church to maintain its power. In 1864, a document called the Syllabus of Errors was published. This document observed the government’s inclination to encroach upon religious power and called for change so that the future government would not hinder the church or education. Bismarck, allied with the National Liberals, declared a nominal war (Kulturkampf) in 1871 with the intention of protecting culture and education from the church. With the support of the anticlerical National Liberals, Bismarck passed laws restricting the church’s ability to worship and educate. Bishops of the Catholic faith were arrested and...