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Liberalism, Political Catholicism, and the Kulturkampf: Class 10/16The Turn to Conservatism & the Second “Reichsgründung”: Class 10/21The Development of German Socialism & Social Democracy: Class 10/23German Jews between Emancipation and Anti-Semitism: Class 10/28Wilhelmine Politics: Class 11/04Weltpolitik, Navalism, & Rise of Anglo-German Antagonism: Class 11/06Wilhelmine Society: Class 11/13The Reform Impulse in Wilhelmine Germany: Class 11/18Wilhelmine Culture: Class 11/20The Plunge into War: Class 12/02The Great War: World War and Revolution: Class 12/04Short I.D.’sLonger Format I.D.’sGerman History 1740-1918 Final Study GuideLiberalism, Political Catholicism, and the Kulturkampf: Class 10/16I. The Liberal Era: 1866-1878, Bismarck cooperated with the liberals. The Kulturkampf was a key element to destroy the influence of Catholicism in the political life of the German Empire. In the end, it was a failure because it weakened the liberals and Bismarck and created new problems. Principles: free trade, freedom of speech and press, greater say for people in government, separation of church and state, skepticism of democracy, and a positive view of the state as a force for positive change (free trade, education, law reform). During this time the clergy controlled marriage, education, etc. and the middle class was a minority in German society. The majority wavered between demands of the state and the demands of the people. They weren’t democrats because they were hostile to the mob and their parties received strong support from civil servants. A. Dilemmas of German Liberalism: should they challenge the government to win more controlor align themselves with the government to influence from within? After the victory of the Austro-Prussian War (1866), many liberals hopped on the Bismarck bandwagon. They were willing to forgive him for prior violations of the constitution. The Indemnity Bill was passed in 1866 which granted retroactive forgiveness of Bismarck’s actions. This was controversial along liberals, so a split occurred. The Progressives rejected the bill, saying that unity without freedom is the unity of slaves. The National Liberals supported the bill, saying that German unity is more important than a few paragraphs of the Prussian Constitution. The task of national unity was their higher goal. Many liberals were disappointed with Bismarck’sConstitution and its independence of the imperial government from the Reichstag, which could influence the law but not the government. They controlled the budget, passed taxes and legislation, negotiated the wording of laws, and discussed matters with public officials.B. The Problem of “Responsible” Government after 1871: Liberals were unsure if they wanted a government legally responsible for the parliament or only responsive. There was a fear of universal male suffrage and democracy and no need to take direct control of the government because they and Bismarck seemed to share an agenda. The liberal parties of enlightened opinion felt no need to campaign and had a grassroots organization. They were getting what they wanted from 1866-78: unification, a constitution, a move towards free trade and the promise of a greater role in the government.II. Political Catholicism and the KulturkampfA. The Rise of Political Catholicism: around this time, churches reorganized and a church tax was implemented. There was Lutheran, Reformed, and Catholic. The church was supported by the government and rights and privileges. There was no civil marriage – they needed a clergyman. The church oversaw elementary education and schools were separated by confession. They wouldn’t switch confessions – it was a cumbersome process and it was difficult to leave church altogether. States were traditionally divided by confession. With thecollapse of the Holy Roman Empire, more Catholics were living under Protestant rulers political Catholicism (organized to act for their interests – they had experienced conflict withthe state and protestant liberals). The term Kulturkampf was coined by Rudolf Virchow, whosaid, “The struggle against the Catholics has assumed “the character of a great struggle for civilization [Kulturkampf] in the interest of humanity.”- Holy Coat of Trier (city on the Rhine) – worn by Jesus. 1844: over 500,000 Catholics pilgrimage to see it. There was a tendency in church teaching to emphasize the authority of the Pope (ultramontanism).- In 1864, Pope Pius IX issued his Syllabus of Errors which specified liberal errors in political thought that were rejected by the Church. It condemned 80 propositions as heresy, many on political topics, including, pantheism, naturalism, rationalism, socialism, communism, and secret societies.- In 1980, the Center Party was founded by a majority of Catholics who wanted to protect Catholic interests. Individual state governments wanted to remove the clergy’s control over education – anti-Catholic violence occurred. The monastery was seen as a place of sexual perversion. The Center Party stood for autonomy for the Catholic Church and the harmony among various classes. Bismarck was extremely distrustful and attempted a series of measures to weaken the Center Party, the Kulturkampf.B. The Decision to Launch the Kulturkampf: Bismarck was extremely anti-Catholic, full of hate, and cunning. There was an alliance between the Catholic clergy and political radicals. The behavior of Catholics orchestrated in Rome via the Jesuit order led Bismarck to believe that he could dismantle the Center Party. He suffered from health problems such as headaches, intestinal issues, overate and drank, and was often unable to sleep. He also had an inflamed tendency to create a political enemy. His enemies came naturally and the Center party was the first Reichsfeind (enemy of the empire). Kulturkampf laws (implemented only in Prussia):-1871: “Pulpit Law” – sermons and homilies endangering the “public peace” banned-1872: the Jesuit Order was expelled from Germany-1872: “School Law” – school supervision was put in the hands of the state in Prussia-1873: May Laws in Prussia – all candidates for priesthood had to be registered with the Prussian government and pass a German culture exam-1875: civil marriage became compulsory C. Liberal Support/Catholic Resistance: anti-Catholicism was a feature of liberalism. Liberals wanted a Kulturstaat (culture state) on the basis of a secular culture.


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FSU HIS 4930r - Final Study Guide

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