Bismarck and his issues

Seven Weeks War/Austrio Prussian War 

- Bismarck wanted to kick the Austrians out of Germany (even though they thought they were on their side against the Danes) 

- Bismarck's reasoning for this was that he didn't want to share a power with Austria 

He basically thinks that the only way to accomplish what he wants/be super powerful is to kick Austria out. 

- So what does he do? he instigates a war... 

The war ends after seven weeks hence the name 

- After the war ended, Bismarck made the peace terms very generous... which was a little sus 

This was way different than how he treated the French after the Franco-Prussian War. 

• France was forced to pay a huge indemnity of 5 billion francs and to cede the rich eastern province of Alsace and part of Lorraine to Germany 

Why so mean to France??

Bismarck saw that Napoleon III was a very strong leader so he didn't want to give him any leeway or opportunities

It basically boils down to the fact that Bismarck couldn't handle the idea of any other powerful nation, so he just wrecked them

The French were deeply scarred by these harsh terms, and it stayed with them all the way to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles

Bismarck 

- An analogy that really bothers Brielle is that he is like a nineteenth century sun king 

True, he will never have Louis's amazing dancing skills, but there are many reasons why he would be considered as powerful as Louis: 

- First of all, he practically created Germany, aka he is responsible for its unification that made it the country it is today 

so Germany owes everything to Bismarck 

- He also was able to tame the parliament by refusing to listen to them- much like what Louis did with the nobles 

However, in typical Bismarck fashion, he realizes that making up with Parliament would actually be a better idea because it would benefit him 

- it would unite the people under him more- make him more powerful 

Of course, Bismarck plays this off and acts like it wasn't an impulse action to get what he wanted 

So why did he go to Parliament? 

- He realized that everyone wanted to participate in the government so he let them believe they were in order to get support 

- He needs Parliament because its all about image- parliament is very important in terms of public opinion of him 

• He is going to use nationalism to get what he wants- in order to be nationalistic, they have to be ok with the people in charge
• If he did not get on the good side of parliament, they could give him a hard time which could lead to revolts
• Trying to keep everyone happy in order to support him
• Basically Wants to make sure no one wants to kill him
  
  
  

• Church had this voting block that made him nervous

• Wanted to take Catholic political power out
• Worried that people would be listening to the Pope instead of him- Papal infallibility
• In Protestant Russia- he made laws that were hostile to the Catholic Church
• Doesn’t get much done- his attack on the Catholic Church was less of a success
• “Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them made.”
  
  
  

  Finally: His deal with socialism: 

  • Fearful of Socialism/Communism
  • Scared he would be out because he was conservative
  • Thought they would ruin society
  • Some of their ideas were popular with the German people- so he takes some of his ideas and puts them into action to make the socialists less popular
  • He puts these social reforms into place/takes them for his own
  • He wanted to have popular support, not divide the nation any further
  • If the government is already doing these things, it makes the socialists less popular
  • Kept him in power