How successful was Bulow as Chancellor? C/B aim – to explain both sides and reach an overall assessment B/A aim – to explain both sides, reach an overall assessment, and link this to what it suggests about autocracy and democracy What does this book suggest about the Chancellorship of Bulow? How successful do you think his Chancellorship was based on this book cover?

Hoemework – due Monday 29 th September Read pp Access to History and pp in Edexcel and answer the following. You may need to do some additional research for some parts. – What was Bulow’s background? – What successes did Bulow have as Chancellor? – What problems did Bulow face as Chancellor?

Overview 1873 – his father was Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs under Bismarck 1880s and 1890s – Bulow had diplomatic postings in Russia. He tried to remove prince Hohenlohe as ambassador to France and take his place – Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Eulenburg (another Prussian Junker) advised Bulow on how to manage Wilhelm, largely to praise him and never contradict him. Bulow agreed to the Kaiser’s request that he would build the navy without starting a war. Previously the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs had always been subordinate to the Chancellor in managing foreign affairs, especially when Bismarck was Chancellor (he resigned in 1890). However, Bulow managed to become more influential than the Chancellor in foreign affairs and had regular meetings with the Kaiser to discuss them. They also began discussing domestic affairs – became Chancellor – Whilst he was chancellor accident insurance was passed, industrial arbitration courts were founded, health insurance was extended child labour was further controlled 1903 – Moroccan Crisis – Herero Uprising 1907 – Hottentot election 1908 – Daily Telegraph Affair leading to his resignation in 1909

How did Bulow become Chancellor and what did he bring to the position? Prince Hohenlohe was made Chancellor in 1897, he wasn’t particularly influential, his secretaries of state had a much stronger role, he rarely appeared in parliament. He made it well known he wanted to retire. Bulow made many of the decisions as foreign secretary and being close to the Kaiser. Hohenlohe became tired of public discussions about when Bulow would replace him. Eventually Hohenlohe handed in his resignation, Bulow travelled to Berlin by train, where the Kaiser met him from the train, and made him Chancellor.

What does this cartoon suggest? How is he going to achieve this?

Sammlungspolitik Policy of Concentration – Openly declared that he aimed to build an alliance of conservative interests in the Reich between the conservatives, liberals, Junker and industrialists to halt the threat of socialism. He was happy to accommodate centre party too. Blue Black block (the blue conservatives and the black centre party) – What emphasis did he place on foreign policy?

What social reforms were passed to support the aims of the Bulow Block? – 1902 Tariff Law Tariffs had been an issue of much debate since they were reduced in the 1890s under Caprivi. The Conservatives and the Agarian League wanted higher tariffs to protect agriculture, the SPD and Left Liberals wanted lower tariffs to reduce the price of bread. Tariffs were restored to the pre-1892 levels. This was passed in the Reichstag with the support of the Centre, the National Liberals and the Free Conservatives. The conservatives forces would have like them to become even higher. – The SPD gained more votes as a result of opposing the tariffs – The Conservatives saw a reduction in their vote How successful was Bulow in achieving his aims?

The Budget Expense of Weltpolitik Proposed inheritance tax and increased indirect taxes. The SPD opposed the increase in indirect taxes and the conservative forces opposed inheritance tax. The budget stayed the same and the government kept overspending. It wasn’t until 1912 under another chancellor that they managed to increase inheritance tax and start to reduce the deficit. How successful was Bulow?

Up to 1906 how successful was Bulow in achieving his aims and why was he successful?

Herero Uprising Read your text and answer these questions – What caused the Herero Uprising? – What happened during the Herero Uprising? – What was the outcome of the Herero Uprising? – How may this have affected Bulow?

Herero Uprising As letters, reports and photographs returned to Germany and were spread through newspapers and word of mouth a considerable number of Centre Party members were scandalised. Matthias Erzberger was a Centre Party deputy who recently joined the Reichstag. He became their colonial specialist and gave speeches about German colonialism. He agreed with colonisation but argued that Germany needed to be more ‘enlightened’. He argued that black men had immortal souls ‘just as Europeans’ and he was hooted by the other side of the house. Initially the SPD supported the war, however later the SPD’s chairman Bebel said that it was a war of ‘butchery and enslavement’, to which Bulow replied saying that ‘seldom or never has a colonial war been conducted in such a patient and human manner’. What impact did the Herero Uprising have on German politics? Was Bulow achieving his aim?

Hottentot Election There seemed to be a lack of parliamentary accountability or even control over foreign policy. By 1906 it was clear it was extremely expensive, by December of 1906 it had cost the state 456 million marks, or 12 dreadnoughts. In May 1906 a bill was proposed to increase spending to accommodate the building of a new railway in South West Africa and compensate settlers for their losses. A bill was also proposed to make the Colonial Department of the Foreign Office, over which the Reichstag had some influence, into an independent imperial office, over which the Kaiser would only have influence and they would have none. The centre party voted against these bills. The Reichstag was dissolved as it had no working majority with which to pass new bills and laws to give to the government. A new election was called for January 1907, the ‘Hottentot’ election – this is an offensive term for the Khoi people in GSWA.

Bulow led a group of conservative parties who promised to form a coalition who would support Bulow, they were the Bulow Bloc (this is different to the earlier one!) – this was made up of the Conservatives, Free Conservatives, Agrarian league, National Liberals, Progressives, Pan-Germans and Anti-Semites. They campaigned on a nationalist Weltpolitik platform. The SPD and Centre party campaigned for votes against them. Bulow warned that if they voted for the SPD or Centre party they would then form a red-black block (different to the black-blue block from earlier) which could in theory strengthen reformist and gradualist socialism – which many people were scared of. The SPD and Centre party campaigned on humanitarian and living and working condition policies. What do you think the outcome would be?

The SPD gained half a million votes but lost half their seats, they reduced from 96 to 43 – why do you think this happened? – Unequal constituency sizes which favoured rural seats Centre party – won 105 out of 397, still remaining the largest party. The Bulow Bloc won 216 seats out of 397. Why were the results like this? What does this show you about Wilhemine Germany? How successful was Bulow?

How successful was Bulow as Chancellor? Add as many points as you can and reach an overall judgement so far. What did his success rely on? (personality, give reasons) Successful Unsuccessful

How autocratic was Wilhemine Germany?

Knowledge test

eik eik How accurate is this clip?

Homework What happened in the Daily Telegraph Affair? Why was this affair significant for Wilhemine Germany? How far did Bulow achieve his aims of Sammlungspolitik, reducing the threat of Socialism and maintaining a good relationship with the Kaiser, in this affair?