Otto+Von+Bismarck

=Otto Von Bismarck=



Otto von Bismarck was born into a wealthy, aristocratic family on April 1, 1815, in Schoenhausen, Prussia. After prestigious schooling and university education, (aged 32) he married Johanna von Puttkamer in 1847. In this same year, he entered the new Prussian Parliament, where he was totally opposed to Democracy, and openly supported the rule of the monarch.

The revolution Prussia faced in March of 1848 brought about the concession of Prussia and other German states becoming a single nation, and the development of a constitution, but both of these ideas failed to come to fruition. The following year, (with Bismarck now as a member of the lower house of Prussian government), the German states met to discuss unification - which Bismarck was opposed to due to Prussia losing it's independance. This assembly failed in trying to bring about unification, mostly due to the lack of support from Austria and Prussia, the two most important German states. In 1851, Bismarck was appointed //'//Diet of the German Confederation in Frankfurt'//,// and effectively his political opinions had changed in favour of German unification, because he was no longer under the influence of conservative Prussians, and it was the only way to balance the increasing influence (and threat) of Austria. From 1858-1862, Bismarck was posted in Russia and the Paris, serving as a Prussian ambassador. The Gastein Convention agreement was signed in 1865, and so Prussia received Schleswig while Austria received Holstein, but in 1866 Austria went back on their word, adamant that the Diet must determine the Shleswig-Holstein issue, and so the Austro-Prussian War broke out. Prussia defeated Austria and it's allies, (much to Europes suprise) at the Battle Of Sadowa, and as a result, the German Confederation came to an end. Prussia then took control of Schleswig, Holstein, Frankfurt, Hanover, Hesse-Kassel and Nassa, with Austria declaring not to intervene again. In 1867, several North German states and Prussia joined the North German Confederation, with Bismarck as Chancellor and King Wilhelm I serving as the president. Bismarck gained much political support from his successes in the military.

The Franco-Prussian War was declared on July 19, 1870 over the vacant Spanish throne which had been offered to the German prince Leopold. The German army one every battle, with the major battles lasting only a month (7th August - 1st September). Immediately after his success in the Franco-Prussian War, Bismarck sought to secure Germans unification, and upon negotiating with representatives of southern German states, he succeeded. Each state of the German Empire was somewhat independant, and King Wilheim the King of Prussia (who became the German Emperor on January 18, 1871) was not sovereign. In Bismarck's wish for Prussia to be the most powerful component of Germany, Austria was excluded from unification (and regardless, were far less superior to Germany after the Austro-Prussian War.) In 1871, Bismarck became Furst (Prince) von Bismarck, and appointed the 'Imperial Chancellor of the German Empire' whilst retaining his titles of Minister-President and Foreign Minister of Prussia, and he therefore had much control over domestic and foreign policy. In the following years, Bismarck attempted to reduce the Catholic Church's influence, and power of the Catholic Centre Party in Germany and created a campaign called Kulturkampf, though this only strengthened the Catholic Centre Party, so Bismarck dismissed the campaign in 1878. Another party which Bismarck felt threatened by was the Social Democratic Party, and against growth in the socialist movement, anti-socialist laws were instituted in 1878 - but, the movement continued to gain followers, even whilst Bismarck attempted to reduce the appeal of socialism. In order to keep peace across Europe and avoid the German Empires strength being threatened, Bismarck maintained pleasant relations with European nations, (bar France who wished to avenge their loss in the Franco-Prussian War) particularly Italy, of whom he is partially responsible for their unification. After Russo-German relations suffering and The League of the Three Emperors having fallen apart, Bismarck negotiated the Dual Alliance in 1879, which included Austria-Hungary, and in 1882 became the Triple Alliance as Italy joined. By this stage, imperialism was spreading rapidly through Europe, and throughout the early 1880's, Germany hopped on the bandwagon. During this time, Bismarck introduced the first modern welfare scheme the world had seen, which included benefits for sickness, accidents and old age.

The German Emperor died in 1888, and was succeeded by his son Friedrich III, though he was ill, soon died and succeeded by his own son Wilhelm II. Wilhelm opposed Bismarck's careful and rather conservative policies, preferring rapid expansion for the German Empire. Due to the little respect Bismarck showed to Wilhelm's policies ultimately a falling out, upon realising he was soon to be dismissed, by Wilhelms insistence Bismarck resigned in 1890, and became Duke of Lauenburg aged 75. He was given much honour after leaving office, and he was praised, painted, had books written about him, and buildings named after him. He spent his final years in Friedrichsruh (near Hamburg), where he died in 1898 aged 83.

Rempel, G. (1995). //The Process Of German Unification.// [Internet]. Western New England College. Available from: http://mars.wnec.edu/~grempel/courses/wc2/lectures/germanunif.html [accessed 11 May 2008] Simkin, J. //Otto von Bismarck.// [Internet]. Available from: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWbismarck.htm [accessed 8 May 2008] Showalter, D. //Otto von Bismarck.// [Internet]. Colorado College. Available from: http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/refpages/RefArticle.aspx?refid=761571668 [accessed 11 May 2008]