Under Bismarck and Emp. Wilhelm II 1

Strongest state in Europe (25 states) Rapid industrialization Bismarck ( Chancellor!) Bismarck’s Kulturkampf: Battle for modern civilization 1864 Syllabus of Errors – Pius IX 1870 Vatican Council I –Infallibility of the Pope 1871 Kulturkampf launched Priests removed from teaching positions Jesuits expelled/Bishops exiled – arrested Closed Catholic schools Instituted civil marriage By 1875 Bismarck seeks compromise w/ Catholics Ultimately realizes there is a bigger threat... 2

German Social Democrats 1875 Led by Ferdinand Lassalle - moderate socialism, founder of General German Worker’s Association Bismarck fears rise of socialism (Paris Commune) must stop the spread of pro-socialist ideas and growth of pro-socialist political parties = pass anti-socialist laws Tries to build people’s confidence in him – not Marx Institutes “State Socialism”: state-sponsored unemployment insurance, healthcare, and retirement benefits = 1 st social welfare program in the west BUT more and more socialists elected to Reichstag anyway 3

Wilhelm I dies 1888 Wilhelm II (29 years old – idealist) Forces Bismarck to retire (70 years old) “New Course” --- but--- Colonial war in Africa 1906 Socialism spreads Social Democrats win control of Reichstag Social/Political order challenged 4