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Otto Von Bismarck effectively ruled first Prussia and then all of Germany between 1862 and 1890. Using realpolitik, he became one of the commanding figures in Germany. He also ruled without consent from the parliament. He then received Prussian dominance over Germany and Europe.

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Table of Contents

1. Otto von Bismarck: Early Years

2. Otto von Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor

3. Otto von Bismarck: Kulturkampf, Welfare State, Empire

4. Otto von Bismarck: Final Years and Legacy

Germany became a modern, unified nation under the leadership of the "Iron Chancellor" Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898), who between 1862 and 1890 effectively ruled first Prussia and then all of Germany. A master strategist, Bismarck initiated decisive wars with Denmark, Austria and France to unite 39 independent German states under Prussian leadership. Although an arch-conservative, Bismarck introduced progressive reforms-including universal male suffrage and the establishment of the first welfare state-in order to achieve his goals. He manipulated European rivalries to make Germany a world power, but in doing so laid the groundwork for both World Wars.

Otto von Bismarck: Early Years

Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck was born April 1, 1815, at his family's estate in the Prussian heartland west of Berlin. His father was a fifth-generation Junker (a Prussian landowning noble), and his mother came from a family of successful academics and government ministers. Throughout his life Bismarck would emphasize his rural Junker roots, underplaying his considerable intellect and cosmopolitan outlook.

Did you know? Although German leader Otto von Bismarck wore a general's uniform in public for much of his later life (and successfully prosecuted three wars as chancellor), his only prior military service was a brief, unwilling stint in a reserve unit.

Bismarck was educated in Berlin and after university took a series of minor diplomatic posts before retiring, at age 24, to run his family's estate at Kneiphof. In 1847 he married and was sent to Berlin as a delegate to the new Prussian parliament, where he emerged as a reactionary voice against the liberal, anti-autocratic Revolutions of 1848.

From 1851 to 1862 Bismarck served a series of ambassadorships-at the German Confederation in Frankfurt, in St. Petersburg and in Paris-that gave him valuable insight into the vulnerabilities of Europe's great powers.

Otto von Bismarck: The Iron Chancellor

William I became Prussia's king in 1861 and a year later appointed Bismarck as his chief minister. Though technically deferring to William, in reality Bismarck was in charge, manipulating the king with his intellect and the occasional tantrum while using royal decrees to circumvent the power of elected officials.

In 1864 Bismarck began the series of wars that would establish Prussian power in Europe. He attacked Denmark to gain the German-speaking territories of Schleswig-Holstein and two years later provoked Emperor Franz-Josef I into starting the Austro-Prussian War (1866), which ended in a swift defeat for the aging Austrian empire. At the time, Bismarck wisely declined to levy a war indemnity against the Austrians.

Bismarck was less circumspect in his conduct of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71). Seeing the opportunity to unify Germany's loose confederations against an outside enemy, Bismarck stirred political tensions between France and Prussia, famously editing a telegram from William I to make both countries feel insulted by the other. The French declared war, but the Prussians and their German allies won handily. Prussia levied an indemnity, annexed the French border provinces of Alsace and Lorraine and crowned William emperor of a unified Germany (the Second Reich) in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles-a tremendous insult to the French.

Otto von Bismarck: Kulturkampf, Welfare State, Empire

With Germany unified, William I and Bismarck turned to entrenching their domestic power. For much of the 1870s Bismarck pursued a Kulturkampf (cultural struggle) against Catholics, who made up 36 percent of Germany's population, by placing parochial schools under state control and expelling the Jesuits. In 1878 Bismarck relented, allying with the Catholics against the growing socialist threat.

In the 1880s Bismarck set aside his conservative impulses to counter the socialists by creating Europe's first modern welfare state, establishing national healthcare (1883), accident insurance (1884) and old age pensions (1889). Bismarck also hosted the 1885 Berlin Conference that ended the "Scramble for Africa," dividing the continent between the European powers and establishing German colonies in Cameroon, Togoland and East and Southwest Africa.

Otto von Bismarck: Final Years and Legacy

William I died in 1888 and was succeeded by his son Frederick III and then his grandson William II, both of whom Bismarck found difficult to control. In 1890 the new king forced Bismarck out. William II was left in control of a flourishing unified state but was ill-equipped to maintain Bismarck's carefully manipulated balance of international rivalries. Respected and honored by the time of his death eight years later, Bismarck quickly became a quasi-mythic figure invoked by political leaders calling for strong German leadership-or for war.

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Otto von Bismarck - Biography, World Wars & Facts

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Otto von Bismarck (1815-1898)-also known as the "Iron Chancellor"-was Chancellor of the newly-united German Empire from 1862 to 1890. During his tenure he modernized the nation and helped set the stage for World War I.

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Giuseppe was a Italian General, patriot, revolutionary, and republican. Helped to unify Italy and the creation of the kingdom of Italy. He fought for Italian Independence.

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Biography of Giuseppe Garibaldi, Revolutionary Hero Who United Italy

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Italian revolutionary Giuseppe Garibaldi became an international celebrity even before he succeeded in uniting Italy. Learn about his life.

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He was born sometime in 1758, in Africa. At the age of 30, Jean was sold to  a Black man named Dessalines. Jean was the first ruler of an Independent Haiti. Haiti then became the first country to abolish slavery.

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Quick Facts

Name

Jean-Jacques Dessalines

Occupation

Governor, General, Emperor

Birth Date

c. 1758

Death Date

October 17, 1806

Place of Birth

West Africa

Place of Death

Pont Rouge, near Port-au-Prince, Haiti

AKA

Jean Jacques Dessalines

Emperor Jacques I

Nickname

Jacques I of Haiti

Full Name

Jean-Jacques Dessalines

Jean-Jacques Dessalines was a military leader who worked with Toussaint L'Ouverture and gave the country of Haiti its name.

Synopsis

Born around 1758, in Africa, Jean-Jacques Dessalines was enslaved in the French colony of Saint-Domingue. He served as a lieutenant under Toussaint L'Ouverture after the 1791 slave revolt and later eliminated French rule. Dessalines renamed the colony Haiti in 1804 and declared himself emperor. Despised for his brutality, yet honored as one of Haiti's founding fathers, he was killed in a revolt on October 17, 1806, in Pont Rouge, near Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Colonial Life

Jean-Jacques Dessalines' biography is a mix of legend and history. Haitian tradition says he was born in central West Africa and transported as a slave to Sant-Domingue, (Haiti) in the French West Indies. However, most historians believe he was born Jean-Jacques Duclos, the name of his first owner, in Saint-Domingue, circa 1758. He became a field hand and eventually rose up to the role of foreman. At around age 30, he was sold to a free black man named Dessalines and his surname was changed again. Jean-Jacques' master proved to be cruel and brutal, treatment that he may have adopted later in life as a means to an end..

Leading a Revolution

In 1791, a slave rebellion broke out in Sant-Domingue and Dessalines was able to escape the plantation and join rising rebel leader Toussaint L'Ouverture. Though illiterate, Dessalines was a quick study, positioning himself as L'Ouverture's lieutenant and earning the nickname "the Tiger" for his ferocity in battle. Initially, their fight was to free all slaves on the island, but over time the goal would become independence.

In 1793, the French Republic declared an end to slavery in France and all colonies and soon after L'Ouverture and Dessalines switched their allegiance to the French against the Spanish and British. Over the next ten years Dessalines' skill and leadership proved vital to L'Ouverture's success in capturing the Spanish-controlled eastern half of the island. By 1799, Dessalines had risen to the rank of brigadier general.

With Europe temporarily distracted due to the rise of Napoleon, the slave rebellion turned into a civil war and L'Ouverture and Dessalines fought for control of the island, crushing rivals and slave owners alike. By 1801, L'Ouverture was serving as governor-general of Haiti and Dessalines was second in command. Many whites and mulattos in Santa Dominque had lobbied France to reestablish slavery and the Napoleon sent a force to restore French rule on the island. L'Ouverture and Dessalines repelled the invading forces in the battle of Crête-à-Pierrot.

After the battle, Dessalines became disenchanted with L'Ouverture' leadership and briefly sided with the French, possibly causing L'Overture's capture and arrest in 1802. When it became clear that the French intended to reinstate slavery, Dessalines switched sides again and commanded rebel forces against the French. In a series of victories, Dessalines' coalition of blacks and mulattos were successful in forcing the French to surrender and leave the island. In 1804, Dessalines proclaimed independence and in 1805 declared himself emperor. Haiti became the first black independent republic in the world.

Emperor of Haiti

As emperor, Dessalines took drastic measures he felt necessary for Haiti to stay independent. He enforced a system of forced labor to prevent Haiti from reverting back to a subsistence economy. To eliminate rule by whites, he confiscated their land and made it illegal for them to own property. Probably his most extreme measure was a campaign to eliminate the white population of Haiti. Between February and April, 1804, Dessalines ordered deaths of approximately 3,000 to 5,000 white people of all ages and genders.

To his credit, Dessalines also tried to implement reforms to improve Haiti's economy. He enforced tight regulation of foreign trade, and favored commerce with Great Britain and the United States over France. He placed well-educated Haitians, primarily mulattos, into key positions in his administration.

The exact circumstances of Dessalines death are uncertain. What is known is that people of all classes were upset with his draconian labor and agricultural policies including the peasants, the fair-skinned elite and the military. He was killed on October 17, 1806, possibly in an ambush led by Alexandre Pétion and Henri Christophe, who later split the country in two and ruled each section separately..

Legacy

Despite his violent reign, Dessalines lives on as a figure of pride for Haitians. The day of his death, October 17, is a national holiday in Haiti. Dessalines's legacy is embodied in Haiti's national anthem, "La Dessalinienne."

Fact Check

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Name Jean-Jacques Dessalines Occupation Governor, General, Emperor Birth Date c. 1758 Death Date October 17, 1806 Place of Birth West Africa Place of Death Pont Rouge, near Port-au-Prince, Haiti AKA Jean Jacques Dessalines Emperor Jacques I Nickname Jacques I of Haiti Full Name Jean-Jacques Dessalines Jean-Jacques Dessalines was a military leader who worked with Toussaint L'Ouverture and gave the country of Haiti its name.

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The German Declared war to the three Independent South German States. They were under the command of the Prussian King. Also under the command of William 1

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Dreamt about unification with Italy. Then they decided to speak with Russia to get help with the war against Austrians. All of Italy was eventually unified.

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Haiti had many Slaves. The slaves were in a brutal sugar- production. In Haiti , 90% was made up of Slaves. The slaves heard that the King of France was going to Free them. In 1791, the National Assembly gave full French citizenship to the men of color. Later on a brutal fight broke out with the French people of color, and the poor white people.

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Haitian Revolutions: Crash Course World History #30

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This photo is Realism

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This photo is Romanticism

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This photo is Impressionalsim