Bismarck used the media to his advantage. He used it only when it suited him, and never realized that the implications he were presenting were wrong. When world depression in 1875 hit, and assassination attempts were made on the Kaiser, Bismarck engineered an outpouring loyalty from the nation to the Kaiser ~ anyone who opposed him or the Kaiser was characterized as a traitor, and disloyal. In 1878, an election proved Bismarck’s ideologies to be used truly to his advantage. Because emotions ran high during the assassination attempts, Bismarck was able to put together a coalition of conservative deputies that gave him a large majority and put the Reichstag in his “ultimate plan';. Because of his control on the media, and the way he took advantage of his situations, he was able to put off his masterful plans in the government, without being caught. He was walking a very thin line, and it is this trait that led him to his downfall.
Many times, Bismarck used foreign policy to insure German security. It is especially clear, when we read that history on the three emperors and the dual alliance. Because Germany was in the center of Europe, it had powerful neighbors along its borders. Germany did not want to fight against Russia and France at the same time, and fights two battlefronts could lead to the destruction of Germany. France alone had no immediate threat, but if, by chance, it formed an alliance, Germany would be in grave danger. To prevent this, Bismarck sought out two other countries ~ Germany, Russia and Austria-Hungary, to make the three emperor’s league. As well, the dual alliance made in 1879 proved to be another point where Bismarck used foreign policy to his benefit. To start his defense strategy, Germany called upon Austria-Hungary to come to each other’s defense in case of war and attack from another power. As a result of this strategy, it led to the renewal of the three emperors league in 1881. Again, Bismarck continued in his treaties, and signed in 1887 the Reinsurance treaty. This treaty involved Russia. Although these alliances may seem deceitful, it protected Germany and made Europe peaceful, which was Bismarck’s goal from the start.
Bismarck clearly used state socialism in the building of the German nation. He recognized the needs of the working classes, and brought forward a series of welfare concepts initiated at the support of the workers away from unions.
The Reasons for the Growth of Prussia’s Influence in Germany by 1862 In 1815 there was no such thing as a German State or Nation. In the geographical area known as Germany the most powerful state was Austria which was the biggest factor in the increase of Prussia’s influence by 1862. Prussia was the second most powerful state but she was far behind Austria politically and economically. In 1815 the Austrian foreign minister Metternich made a big mistake by giving Prussia the area of Westphalia
century came under the control of Count Camillo Benso di Cavour of Italy and Otto von Bismarck of Germany, both leaders in unification and prominent figures in European politics. The Congress of Vienna after Napoleon reshaped boundaries based on previous monarchies and disregarded ethnic and cultural boundaries, leaving European states disconnected and detatched. At the time, Prussia and the German Confederation and the states on the Italian peninsula were each connected by shared languages, cultures
dozen states and city-states, to a European power, to lying in ruins in such a short period of time? Several factors, such as increased nationalism, shifts in cultural and sociopolitical factors, and an increase in military power all led to the quick rise and fall of the Second Reich of Germany. Germany, for a better part of its history, had been home to around 40 free cities and city-states controlling the area between France and Russia. Attempts at unifying these separate but connected states had
II. Summary 1) The book I have reviewed, Bismarck, is a complex look at the life of the German legend, and is certainly intended for historians not unlike the author himself. Palmer does not exclude any part of the man’s life even dwelling into his childhood and adolescence. His attention to details is very apparent, even to his own admission, using public and private letters written by Bismarck himself. This book is not intended for a student looking for a little more information on the subject
the Great Powers in Europe changed a lot with the accession to the throne of Wilhelm the II in 1888, his dismissal of Chancellor Otto van Bismarck two year later and therefore the breakdown of the Bismarckian Alliance System. The unification of Germany, and the political greatness of Prussia and the empire, are ascribed to the statesmanship of Bismarck. Bismarck was the father of the German nation, he created it and he also masterminded a plan to keep Germany safe from the enemy nations around
by the engagement of many of the leading societies of this time period. In World War I, the dominating societies were that of the European authorities of Britain, Germany, and Austria, and somewhat participation of the United States. In proportion to this, The United States provided their full participation to World War II. The U.S. were eventually determined to become the primary superpower in years to come. By analyzing this essay, the
Johannes Gutenberg (A.S.) 1. Johannes Gutenberg was a German man who is credited with inventing the printing press in 1448. He was born in 1395 in the German city of Mainz. He grew up knowing the trade of goldsmithing; this supplied him with the knowledge he would need in making the printing press in years to come. Johannes Gutenberg brought the printing press into the world and it forever changed the way information was exchanged. Before the printing press, things were written and copied by hand
in what is today Germany. The kingdoms existed, traded, fought wars with and against one another for over a millennium. Napoleon Bonaparte, during his conquest through Europe reduced the number to a German Confederation of thirty-nine states. Otto von Bismarck united all the German Confederation under Prussian domination through a series of wars. Unification made Germany the most dominant country in Europe and instilled a sense of German unity and pride. As united as the Germans were, the country
Countries are entitled to their own individualized feelings concerning situations involving control but what is troubling is that there is an overwhelming influence that can affect an individual state. It may be hard for them because control requires rigorous and thoughtless decision making in regard for innocent people trying to live their lives. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Britain did not see the need to become a part of the entente with France and Russia. This was the start to many