| |
| 1867, April 16 |
| |
| The North German Confederation accepted a constitution that gave the confederation control over foreign policy and economic policies at home and abroad. It provided for a Parliament elected by universal male suffrage and required that all federal laws be published and discussed within the Parliament. The king of Prussia would serve as military commander in chief; the democratically elected lower house (Reichstag) would be balanced by the federal council (Prussian-dominated) of state representatives. Most Prussian liberals accepted this incomplete parliamentary monarchy on grounds of nationalism. | 1 |
| |
| 1868, July 8 |
| |
| Bismarck decreed industrial freedom, which meant the end of any possibility of guild protection. | 2 |
| |
| 1869 |
| |
| The Social Democratic Workers' Party (later to be called the Social Democratic Party, or SPD) was formed at a workers' conference in Eisenach by combining Bebel's Federation of Workers and dissenting Lasalleans. This party adopted a Marxist doctrine. Continued mergers among socialist groups led to the adoption of the Gotha Program (1875), stating that the SPD would work within any legal means to create a free state and socialist society. It called for the introduction of universal male suffrage, civil liberties and the right of association, and the improvement of working conditions and hours. | 3 |
| |
| 1870, July 13 |
| |
| The Ems Telegram was sent to Bismarck. Bismarck had pursued a policy designed to encourage hostilities between Prussia and France in an effort to gain the support of southern Germany. Toward this end, Bismarck encouraged Leopold of Hohenzollern to take the Spanish throne (March 9, 1869). William I discouraged such activity, and Leopold declined the throne; William I then decided not to see the French diplomat, Benedetti, again. Bismarck received the telegram to this effect but stated the terms of the telegram to the press in such a way that it suggested that French and Prussian foreign relations were at a rupture. As a result, the French government declared war on Prussia. | 4 |
| |
| 1870–71 |
| |
| The Franco-Prussian War (See 1870–71) (See July 19–1871, May 10) established Prussian military superiority as Prussia advanced on France and laid siege to Paris. The Prussians humiliated the French, and Bismarck secured the support of the southern German states in his efforts at unification. The new Germany gained Alsace and much of Lorraine from France. | 5 |
| |
| 1871 |
| |
| German unification. The southern provinces agreed to a stronger federalist system in the November Treaties (Nov. 15, 1870), which were followed by the introduction of the constitution of 1871. This constitution established a federal council in which Prussia maintained the chair and had an absolute veto. It did give the kingdoms of Bavaria, Württemberg, and Saxony an absolute veto if they voted in unison. The democratically elected (by male suffrage) Reichstag was balanced by the council; ministerial responsibility was held by the emperor, not Parliament. The Prussian military organization was extended as the means of maintaining armed forces for the empire. It also established the Reservatrechte (maintenance of certain rights such as levying of beer and liquor taxes). This concession had only slight consequences for the stronger federalist state that Bismarck was forging. | 6 |
| |
| 1871 |
| |
| Having been given equality (1848). German Jews were guaranteed their rights. | 7 |
| |
| Jan. 18 |
| |
| William I was proclaimed German emperor at Versailles. William I was surrounded by a Prussian show of military force as he ushered in the Second Reich. | 8 |
| |
| |
