HIST2086 Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor Bismarck’s family and youth, Lecture 5 16 September 2010

Young Bismarck (1) * 1 April 1815 at Schönhausen in Brandenburg Province Son of a traditional Prussian Junker family: His father: Conservative, Lutheran, agrarian- oriented His mother: Intellectual, critical, Enlightened, intelligent = Bismarck: Both streams coined his character! Family moved to rural Pomerania Province, 1816

Young Bismarck (2) High School (Gymnasium) in Berlin, Göttingen University: Law Studies, Member of Burschenschaften (students’ societies devoted to the cherishing of revolutionary spirit) but later of aristocratic students- corps

Young Bismarck (3) Civil servant at Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen), Served in Potsdam District Government, 1837 Served compulsory military service at Potsdam, Retired to the family estate in Pomerania, 1839: Junker life, journeys, leisure Married Johanna von Puttkamer, 1847, from a conservative pietistic Junker family of Pomerania

Bismarck’s Public Life (1) Member of ‘United Diet’ (Vereinigter Landtag): Joint meeting of 8 provincial diets (Landtage) at Berlin, 1847 = first major parliament in Germany Bismarck: A strict-conservative MP strongly opposed to liberal MPs = His dislike of parliamentary life + of liberal dogmatism and principles = His impression that MPs are egoistic and short-term oriented = His conviction that political principles are no base for politics = His full support for Prussian monarchy

Bismarck’s Public Life (2) Strongly opposed to Revolution but almost politically inactive Strongly opposed to liberal Frankfurt parliament = Bismarck’ ideal: A wise and patriotic monarch, guided by his faithful Junkers = His strong distrust in bourgeois liberal reformer = His conviction that only a Prussian ruler choosing the right moment + right cause should bring German unity with Prussian dominance

Prussia’s Constitution of 1850 Created a ‘constitutional monarchy of Prussian style’ based on ‘monarchical principle’ Hereditary monarchy (Hohenzollern House) King with full political power but needed countersigning of ministers who carried full responsibility Prime minister as primus inter pares in cabinet Upper House members mainly appointed Lower House members elected with Three-class franchise system + its right to pass budget

Bismarck’s Characteristics Very curious, active, flexible, eager to read + learn, partly a bon-vivant Passionate, dogmatic, sometimes opportunistic man: Able to explore + grasp diverse possibilities of men and movements Basic loyalties: Prussia, Hohenzollern dynasty, Lutheran Church His dominating impulse: exercise of power