To What Extent Did Bismarck's Successors Change His Policy in the Decade 1890-1900?
To what extent did Bismarck’s successors change his policy in the decade 1890-1900?
The Franco-Prussian war of 1870 acted as a watershed in European history with the formation of the German Empire. No power alone, (perhaps with the exception of Russia) could defeat the new German Empire, and all the European powers with the exception of France were willing to allow Bismarck to consolidate German gains provided there was no further expansion. Bismarck having successfully won the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 and having united Germany, sought to ‘preserve the settlement of 1871’ by maintaining the status of the German empire as a great power amongst the European nations and avoiding conflict. Between 1871- 1890 Bismarck presided as the chancellor and introduced a variety of foreign and domestic policies in the hope of keeping Germany a great power. At home, he concentrated on building a powerful German state and encouraged nationalism and the ideal of a German national identity. In foreign affairs his goal was to make Prussia the dominant power in the German Empire, and to establish the empire as a great power in Europe. Through various alliance systems he managed to accomplish this aim. His resignation in 1890 marked the end of the Bismarckian system and ushered in the Wilehenmne era. This essay will set out to explore the extent to which Bismarck’s successors, William II, Leo von Caprivi, Hohenlohe and Bülow, changed his policy in the decade 1890-1900.
With the resignation of Bismarck in 1990 Emperor William II appointed Leo Von Caprivi as the chancellor. Unlike Bismarck who held conservative values and believed that for Germany to became a great power it should maintain the status quo, Caprivi was liberal in his outlook and advocated a more active foreign policy. Bismarck appreciated Germany’s precariousness position amongst the Great Powers and therefore made it his priority to protect Germany’s expanding power. The constant threat of French revival to reclaim
The Franco-Prussian war of 1870 acted as a watershed in European history with the formation of the German Empire. No power alone, (perhaps with the exception of Russia) could defeat the new German Empire, and all the European powers with the exception of France were willing to allow Bismarck to consolidate German gains provided there was no further expansion. Bismarck having successfully won the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 and having united Germany, sought to ‘preserve the settlement of 1871’ by maintaining the status of the German empire as a great power amongst the European nations and avoiding conflict. Between 1871- 1890 Bismarck presided as the chancellor and introduced a variety of foreign and domestic policies in the hope of keeping Germany a great power. At home, he concentrated on building a powerful German state and encouraged nationalism and the ideal of a German national identity. In foreign affairs his goal was to make Prussia the dominant power in the German Empire, and to establish the empire as a great power in Europe. Through various alliance systems he managed to accomplish this aim. His resignation in 1890 marked the end of the Bismarckian system and ushered in the Wilehenmne era. This essay will set out to explore the extent to which Bismarck’s successors, William II, Leo von Caprivi, Hohenlohe and Bülow, changed his policy in the decade 1890-1900.
With the resignation of Bismarck in 1990 Emperor William II appointed Leo Von Caprivi as the chancellor. Unlike Bismarck who held conservative values and believed that for Germany to became a great power it should maintain the status quo, Caprivi was liberal in his outlook and advocated a more active foreign policy. Bismarck appreciated Germany’s precariousness position amongst the Great Powers and therefore made it his priority to protect Germany’s expanding power. The constant threat of French revival to reclaim
Bibliography: Bridge, F.R and Bullen, R, The great powers and the European states system 1815- 1914 (London 1980) Carr, William, A History of Germany 1815-1990 (Great Britain, 1969) Holborn, Hajo, A history of modern Germany 1840- 1945 (Great Britain, 1969) Mann, Golo, The history of modern Germany since 1789 (London, 1984) Medlicott, W.N, Bismarck and modern Germany (London 1965) Rich, Norman, Great Power Diplomacy 1814-1914 (New York, 1992.) Taylor, A. J. P, Bismarck the man and the statesman (London, 1955) Taylor, A Taylor, A. J. P, The struggle for mastery in Europe 1848- 1918 (London, 1971) Wilson, K [i] William Carr, A History of Germany 1815-1990 (Great Britain, 1969) p.162 [ii] Hajo, Holborn A history of modern Germany 1840- 1945 (Great Britain, 1969)