- Germany took over several factors that made industrialization possible.
- Germany's growth was due in part to ample iron and coal resources, the basic ingredients for industrial development.
- A disciplined and educated workforce also helped the economy.
- The German middle class and educated professionals helped create a productive and efficient society.
- Germany's population grew from 41 million to 67 million during 1871-1914.
- Germany found large companies and built many railroads during the 1850's and 1860's.
- Bismark, the chancellor of the new German empire, pursued several foreign-policy goals.
- He wanted to keep France weak and isolated while building strong links with Australia and Russia.
- He respected British naval power but did not seek to complete in that arena.
- Later he took a more aggressive stand against Britain as the two nations competed for overseas colonies.
- Bismark applied the same ruthless methods he had used to achieve unification.
Social welfare
Otto Von Bismarck
Kaiser William II
Kulturkampf
German military machine
Catholic Church in 1800's
http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/sub_document.cfm?document_id=250
http://www.ssa.gov/history/ottob.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/history_figures/bismarck_otto_von.shtml
http://www.britannica.com/topic/66989/websites
1871
1914
1850-1860
Late 1800's
House of Krupp boomed
Germany's population went from 41 million to 67 million.
German princes gathered at the French palace of Versailles.
Germans had found large companies and built many railroads.
German chemical and electrical industries set the standard worldwide.
- William II succeeded his grandfather as kaiser.
- The new emperor was very confident in his abilities and wished to put stamp on Germany.
- In 1890, he shocked Europe by asking the dominating Bismark to resign.
- William resisted to introduce democratic reforms.
- His government provided programs for social welfare, or programs to help certain groups of people.
- His government also provided services such as cheap transportation and electricity.
- William II lavished funds on the German military machine, and launched an ambitious campaign.
- Williams nationalism and aggressive military stance helped increase tensions on the eve of World War I.
Campaign Against the Socialists
- Bismark also saw a threat to the new German empire in the growing power of socialism.
- By the late 1870's, German Marxists had organized the Social Democratic party, which called for parliamentary democracy and laws to improve conditions for the working class.
- He feared that socialists would undermine the loyalty of German workers and turn them toward revolution.
- Repression backfired, and Bismark changed his course.
- Germans had health and accident insurance as well as old-age insurance to provide retirement benefits.
- Although workers benefited from Bismark's plan, they did not abandon socialism.
- The Social Democratic Party continued to grow in strength.
Campaign Against the Church
- After the unification, Catholics made up about a third of the German population.
- Otto von Bismark distrusted Catholics, especially the clergy.
- Bismark launched the Kulturkampf, or "battle for civilization", which lasted from 1871 to 1878.
- His goal was to make Catholics put loyalty to the state above allegiance to the Church.
- The chancellor had laws passed that gave the state the right to supervise Catholic education and aprove the appointments of priests.
- Bismark's moves against the Catholic Church backfired.
Germany Becomes an Industrial Giant
Promoting Scientific and Economic Development
- German industrialists were the first to see the value of applied science in developing new products such as synthetic chemicals and dyes.
- Industrialists supported research and development in the universities and trained scientists to solve technological problems in their factories.
- The German government also promoted economic development.
- In the 1800's, a worldwide depression hit, and Germany raised tariffs to protect home industries from foreign competition.
- The leaders of the new German empire were determined to maintain economic strength as well as military power.
- The German empire became visible as the industrial giant in the aftermath of unification.
- The German chemical and electrical industries set the standards worldwide during the late 1800's.
- Among the European powers, German shipping was second only to Britain's.
- In 1871, German princes gathered together in the Hall of Mirrors at the French palace of Versailles.
- They had just defeated Napoleon the 3rd in the Franco-Prussian war.
- The French Kings realized the palace was the perfect place to proclaim the new German empire.
- French domination of Europe had ended, and Germany was then the dominant power in Europe.
Chapter 22 Section 2
World History