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Line 1: − + − Known as the "Iron Chancellor", Bismarck is remembered as a unifier for bringing the various Germanic states together into a unified [[Germany]], and the namesake of a famous [[Battleship Bismarck|battleship]]. He was fiercly patriotic and believed in [[realpolitik]].+ − + − + − + − + − + − + − + − + − The New American Desk Encyclopedia, Penguin Group, 1989+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
add new details and bibliog
'''Otto von Bismarck''' (1815-1898) was the Chancellor of [[Prussia]], and later the first [[chancellor]] of the [[German Empire]] before stepping aside in 1890, at the request of the third German Emperor, [[Kaiser Wilhelm II]].
'''Otto von Bismarck''' (Otto Eduard Leopold Fürst von Bismarck, Herzog von Lauenburg, Graf von Bismarck-Schönhausen) (1815-1898) was the minister president of [[Prussia]] (1862-71), and the first [[chancellor]] of the [[German Empire]] (1871-90). Known as the "Iron Chancellor", Bismark was the dominant political leader of Europe in the late 19th century. He was a unifier who brought together the various Germanic states into a unified [[Germany]], under Prussian leadership. His capital was [[Berlin]], but his base of power were the rich landowning "Junkers" of the eastern part of Prussia. He was fiercely patriotic and believed in [[realpolitik]], that is the use of power to get results.
Bismarck entered Prussian politics in 1847. He first served as ambassador to [[Russia]] and [[France]], and became the minister president and foreign minister in 1862. He supervised the defeat of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in the [[Austro-Prussian War]] and annexed or coerced neighboring states into the [[North German Federation]]. He supervised the defeat of the French in the [[Franco-Prussian War]] and the creation of the new German Empire (the "Second Reich"); Bismarck was made its imperial chancellor and prince in 1871 and dominated the political system.
Bismarck entered Prussian politics in 1847. He first served as ambassador to [[Russia]] and [[France]] before becoming the chancellor. He defeated [[Austria]] in the [[Austro-Prussian War]] and annexed or coerced neighboring states into the [[North German Federation]]. Following the defeat of the French in the [[Franco-Prussian War]], the German Empire was created and Bismarck was made its imperial chancellor and Prince in 1871. In 1890 he was forced to step aside by [[Kaiser Wilhelm II]].
In domestic affairs Bismarck was an arch-conservative Protestant who strengthened the economy, fought both the Catholics (in the "Kulturkampf") and the anti-clerical socialists. The Catholics and socialists reorganized and were more powerful at his death than when he attacked them. Bismarck began the German welfare state as a way to gain support for the national government while weakening the socialists.
== See also ==
He played a major diplomatic role in world affairs, from leading the war against France in 1870-71, to balancing the major nations against each other so as to prevent war. This was the "Bismarck System," but he was dismissed in 1890 by an arrogant new emperor [[Kaiser Wilhelm II]] who was oblivious to Bismarck's great achievements.
*[[German Politicians]]
==Bibliography==
*[[Germany]]
* Craig, Gordon A. ''Germany, 1866-1945'' (1978) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=30331035 online edition]
*[[Franco-Prussian War]]
* Crankshaw, Edward. ''Bismarck.'' (1981).
* Eyck, Erich. ''Bismarck and the German Empire.'' (1964).
== Sources ==
* Feuchtwanger, Edgar. ''Bismarck'' (Routledge Historical Biographies) (2002) 276 pp, basic starting point
* Garr, Lothar. ''Bismark: The White Revolutionary'' (1986) 2 vol
* Kent, George O. ''Bismarck and His Times'' 1978 [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=7561027 online edition]
* Lerman, Katharine Anne. ''Bismarck: Profiles in Power'', 2004. ISBN 0-582-03740-9.
* Palmer, Alan. ''Bismarck,'' (1976)
* Pflanze, Otto. ''Bismarck and the Development of Germany.'' 3 vols. (1963–90). the standard scholarly biography
* Pflanze, Otto. ''Bismarck and German Nationalism,'' ''American Historical Review,'' Vol. 60, No. 3 (Apr., 1955), pp. 548-566 [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1845577 in JSTOR]
* Sheehan, James J. ''German History, 1770-1866'' (1989), dense, thorough political history
* Sheehan, James J. ''German liberalism in the nineteenth century'' 1978. [http://hdl.handle.net/2027/heb.01317.0001.001 online at ACLS e-books]
* Stern, Fritz. ''Gold and Iron: Bismarck, Bleichröder and the Building of the German Empire.'' (1977).
*Taylor, A.J.P. ''Bismarck: The Man and the Statesman'' (1955). [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=14683010 online edition]
===Primary sources===
* ''Bismarck, the Man & the Statesman: Being the Reflections and Reminiscences of Otto, Prince Von Bismarck.'' Volume: 1. (1899)[http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=77734130 online edition]
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=dEgKAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA2&dq=inauthor:Otto+inauthor:von+inauthor:Bismarck&as_brr=1#PPR3,M1 "Thoughts and Reminiscences" by Otto von Bismarck Vol. I, online]
*[http://books.google.com/books?id=IkgKAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA1&dq=inauthor:Otto+inauthor:von+inauthor:Bismarck&as_brr=1#PPR3,M1 "Thoughts and Reminiscences" by Otto von Bismarck Vol. II, online]
* [http://www.archive.org/details/bismarckmanstate02bismuoft Bismarck's Memoirs Vol. II, online]
* [http://www.archive.org/details/correspondenceof00bismuoft ''The correspondence of William I and Bismarck: with other letters from and to Prince Bismarck'' ed Ford (1903), online]
====notes====
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