Rise of Socialism

The German Empire Kaiser Wilhelm I and Bismarck ( ) – Multi party system Junkers Catholic Center Party – Advocated regional priorities Social Democratic Party – Marxist. Wanted sweeping change – Middle class left out of politics – Bismarck sees the CP and SPD and threats to imperial power

German Empire Economic/Political reforms ( ) – Unified Monetary System – Imperial Bank – Universal Civil & Criminal codes – Compulsory military service

German Empire Kulturkampf “struggle for civilization” – Pope Pius IX declares papal infallibility (1870) Bismarck tries to limit Catholic influence – Catholic Center Party strong in the south Too strong to be driven underground – Bismarck fails

Social Democratic Party (SPD) Priorities – Sweeping social legislation – Universal suffrage – Demilitarization Bismarck reforms to minimize the SPD threat – 1879, Protective tariff – Social security reforms – Child labor regulated – Better working conditions Bismarck fails again but gains support

William II ( ) Opposed Bismarck’s crusade against SPD Gains workers support and forced Bismarck out SPD becomes largest party in the reichstag by 1912

Third French Republic Paris Commune ( ) – Radical communist government takes Paris – After the peace treaty with Prussia the PC refused to recognize the new National Assembly – March-May 1871 Bloody struggle PC fails and Thousands die

Third French Republic Bourgeoisie dominated Reforms – Trade unions legalized – Secular education established Constant political upheaval – Gov. fails dozens of times

Boulanger Crisis ( ) Georges Boulanger gains support of the military and plots a coup Republic puts him in trial be flees and commits suicide Increase public confidence in the Republic

Dreyfus Affair (1894) Military falsely accuses Captain Alfred Dreyfus of sending supplies to the Germans – Anti-Semitism Emile Zola: realist author – Defends Dreyfus in 1898 Leftists support the republic 190 Dreyfus declared innocent Affair leads to an alliance between the moderate republicans and Socialists

Great Britain Whig = the liberal party – William Gladstone Tory = the Conservative party – Benjamin Disraeli Fabian Society 1883 – Revisionist Marxism – Political democracy and economic socialism 1893: Independent Labour Party – Unionists, socialists