Bismarck Dbq

Otto von Bismarck was appointed Prime Minister of Prussia during the mid-1900s and would forever change the history of this nation. During this timeframe, the state of political affairs throughout Europe was in a tumultuous frenzy. Even prior to the emergence of Bismarck, Europe had already suffered numerous wars which completely reshaped the balance of power. The Crimean wars eliminated any srt off absolute Russian hegemony. Other empires such as the Ottomans entered into a period of decline and the British place a greater focus on domestic over foreign policy. During these incidents, new styles of thinking were rising to prominence. The first was the emergence of Liberals, who advocated for personal freedoms, less religious influence, and

With the use of realpolitik, Bismarck could implement ideas that he believed were necessary for his success of the country while maintaining flexibility in his ideological stance. This can be seen in his speech given in advocacy for a new insurance bill. He advocates that “the state must help persons in distress,” despite its appearance as a socialist position (Document 6). These actions show his willingness to compromise on important issues. Another reason for the distinction of Bismarck was due to his combined criticism from socialists, liberals, and even other conservatives. German socialist Willheim Liebknecht attacked Bismarck for only choosing to compromise, rather than fully supporting socialists positions (Document 2). On the other hand, conservatives also attacked Bismarch for even relinquishing any support for the socialist cause. Hermann Wagner, a prominent conservative, warned that ot’s a “political mistake” to give socialists any form of compromise based off “their social advocacy” (Document 3). Liberals also held grudges against Bismarck, accusing his domestic policies of being flawed and harmful. Liberal journalist such as Eugen Richter accused his policies as having “sinned against national life” (Document 7). These dramatic accusations represent opposition from partisans all over the spectrum. But having endured all that, these ideals allowed Bismarck to

During his rule, he passed legislation such as the “Law of Concerning the Equality of All Religions with Respect to Civil Rights and Citizenship of July 3rd, 1869” and the “School Inspection Law of March 11, 1872” which all contradicted traditional conservative ideology and were more socialist and liberal, respectively (Document 1). By allowing policies that were clearly against traditional conservative positions, it helped prove that he lacked any strong loyalty towards a specific side, proving he wasn’t exactly a traditional conservative. His legislation wasn’t limited to simple social institutions and structures, but also involved the use of economic reform, particularly involving worker conditions. The Emperor of Prussia spoke of the policies involving “Consistent organization to the commercial health insurance system,” “state welfare,” all based off “moral foundation of a Christian national life” (Document 5). These statements allowed Bismarck to implement policies all over the board while maintaining a general and public position as a conservative who supported religion. This directly contradicts hs policies of religious equality rather than favoritism in Document 1. But he still maintains other conservative ideas by preventing any radical reform and maintaining stability within the