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Establishing a National Identity

Bismarck's Kulturkampf aimed to establish state control over the Catholic Church, weaken the Catholic Centre Party, and enhance national unity in post-unification Germany. Despite some successes, such as holding his alliance with the National Liberals, the Kulturkampf ultimately failed due to the growing support for the Catholic Church and the Centre Party. Bismarck's efforts to suppress the Social Democratic Party also faced challenges as their support and influence grew. The treatment of Catholic minorities, socialists, and the internal divisions in Germany post-1871 are key aspects of Bismarck's policies.

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Establishing a National Identity

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  1. Establishing a National Identity

  2. Kulturkamph (“culture struggle”)- Bismarck’s attempts to weaken Catholic church Prussia (except the Rhineland) and other northern states were protestant but 1/3 population (mainly southern states) were Catholic. Bismarck therefore saw the Roman Catholic Church as a threat to political power. The 3 main objectives for Bismarck’s Kulturkampf were to: Establish State control over Catholic church, weaken the Catholic Centre Party and to increase national unity.

  3. Establish State control over Catholic Church ·Catholic Department of the Prussian Ministry of Culture abolished (1871) ·In 1872, the Jesuits (extreme Catholics) were expelled from Germany. ·The May laws of 1873 allowed the gvt to supervise the education of the Roman Catholic clergy, and curtailed the disciplinary powers of the church. ·In 1875, civil ceremonies were required for weddings, which could hitherto be performed in churches. Subsidies would be suspended from 1875 to all churches who refused to comply. ·By 1876 10 of the 12 Catholic Bishops were in exile or under house arrest. More than 1000 priests had been suspended.

  4. Weaken the Catholic Centre Party ·Bismarck tried to get the Vatican and German bishops to withdraw support for the party in 1872 but on the Vatican’s refusal he stepped up anti-catholic measures. ·Bismarck worked with the mainly protestant National liberals, wary of the Pope’s opposition to Liberal values to govern and to suppress the Catholic centre party.

  5. Increase National Unity ·Bismarck tried to ‘Germanize’ many of the Catholic minorities living on the border (French in Alsace-Lorraine, Danes in the north, Poles in the east). ·The Polish Language in Education and law Courts and Alsace-Lorraine was ruled directly by Prussia as a ‘special region’. ·The German Language was imposed in schools and local administration (forced minorities to become German).

  6. The Result Unfortunately for Bismarck, these measures only encouraged support for the Church which thrived on persecution and the Catholic Centre Party- 58seats (1871) grows to 91 (1874). He was therefore forced to abandon the Kulturkampf in 1878 to preserve what political capital he had left.

  7. Successes Bismarck’s attack on the Catholic Church holds together his alliance with the National Liberals, enabling him to govern, and it also does establish a certain amount of State control over what were previously Church areas. Failures Howeverthe rise in support of the Centre Party and the Catholic Church makes the Kulturkampf a failure for Bismarck and he is forced to back off. ·The opposition to the Unified regime makes the country less united, rather than more so – despite some increase in state control over the church, the effort must be judged a failure.

  8. Introduction-National Unity Germany united 1871, but still divisions most notably on religious grounds. Two-thirds Germany, mainly in Prussia and North, are Protestant. One third is Catholic – Poles, Rhinelanders, southern Germans. Bismarck himself is concerned about effects of these divides upon Germany - minorities are Catholic, threatening unity. Also rise of Catholic Centre Party provides opposition to his Germany. ·Bismarck very concerned with internal enemies in the years following Unification. ·Universal German Workingmen’s Association formed in 1863 in Prussia – moderate organisation to get more power for workers. ·1869 – Social Democratic Workers’ Party – a Marxist party committed to revolution. ·Combine in 1875 to form the German Social Democratic Party (SDP). Declared aim: overthrow the existing order. ·Bismarck concerned – workers cannot be loyal to both a socialist organisation and the state. SDP support growing – 12 seats, 500,000 votes in 1877. They DO want to overthrow the government. ·Sets out to stop them by two methods: ·1) Destroying the power of the SDP ·2) Trying to win over the support of the working classes. Paragraphs 1.Kulturekamph 2.Treatment of minorities 3.Treatment of socialists

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