Otto Von Bismarck 1815-1898 Natassia

The Iron Chancellor Transformed a collection of small German States into a Great Empire Served as the first Chancellor from 1871-1890 Initiated social and welfare reform

Young Life Born on 1 April 1815 at Schönhausen in Brandenburg, Prussia. His father was an aristocrat and his mother was from an upper-middle class family of academicians and civil servants.

His Education Went to Gymnasium in Berlin Studied Law at Göttingen and in Berlin. He received his degree in 1837. Received a civil service appointment as an apprentice official but resigned in 1838.

Young Adult Life From 1838-1847 Otto was a “Wild Man.” He drank heavily and gambled recklessly. Life changes in 1847 when he married Johanna Von Putkammer, converted his religion and began his political career. These gave him stability and self discipline.

Prussian Legislature Extremely conservative and wholeheartedly supported the monarchy Strongly opposed any challenges to the position of the land owning aristocracy Befriended by Prussia’s King Frederick William IV. Appointed Ambassador to the German Confederation. Appointed Ambassador to Russia in St. Petersburg.

Prussia 1858 Prince Regent William became Wilhelm I 1860 King and Parliament in deadlock about funding military reform Appointed Bismarck Premier in 1862 Found a loophole by using the 1861 budget without parliament approval “The great questions of today will not be settled by speeches and majority decisions…but by blood and iron.” Wilhelm I

Wars 1864 Took provinces of Schleswig and Holstein from Denmark with an alliance with Austria 1866 7-weeks-war with Austria over the provinces 1866 Parliament retroactively sanctioned the wars 1870 Bismarck edited and important document to France to sound insulting. He provoked a war to unite Southern Germany with Northern Germany against a common threat.

Wilhelm Crowned Emperor Crowned in the hall of mirrors in Versailles outside Paris, on January 18, 1871

Chancellor of the Empire Uniform legal codes, nationalized railways, compulsory military service Kulturkampf- (culture struggle) attack fueled by propaganda against the Center Party (Catholic). Became a conflict with The Roman Catholic Church. Bismarck was force to Negotiate. Used a similar attack on the Liberal groups successfully At the same time instituted health, accident, and old age insurance

Foreign Policy 1873 negotiated the Three Emperor’s League with Austria-Hungary and Russia to isolate France 1879 Dual Alliance with Austria-Hungary in case of Russian Attack 1877 Two Mediterranean Agreements to preserve Status quo Complex system

Retirement After many conflict with young Emperor Wilhelm II, Bismarck was dismissed in 1890 He retired to his estate and died on July 30, 1898

Quotes “Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.” “Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable…the art of the next best.” “Laws are like sausages. It’s better not to see them being made.” “Better pointed bullets than pointed words.”

Contemporaries Karl Marx 1818-1883 sociologist Charles Darwin 1809-1882 naturalist Pope Pius IX 1797-1878 William Wordsworth 1770-1850 Poet Alphred Lord Tennyson 1809-1892 Poet

More Contemporaries Gregor Mandel 1822-1884 Austrian Monk/Teacher Studied Plant Genetics Henry David Thoreau 1817-1862 Writer Walt Whitman 1819-1892 Writer Queen Victoria 1837-1901 Sam Clemens 1835-1910 Mark Twain

Notable Sources www.kbismarck.com www.fordham.edu www.ssa.gov www.germanembassy-india.org Encarta.msn.com www.creative quotations.com www.cmtc.7atc.army.mil www.newgenevacenter.org