Discuss the successes and failures of Bismarck’s domestic policies.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of Bismarck’s domestic policies. When discussing successes and failures candidates may identify Bismarck’s aims both in relation to specific policies and the nation as a whole. His overarching aim was to maintain the authority of the monarchy and the dominance of Prussia within the empire. Key domestic policies include the Kulturkampf, anti-socialist legislation, State Socialism, economic policies and policies relating to national minorities. Both the Kulturkampf and anti-socialist legislation could be considered failures as the Catholic Centre Party gained support and anti-Catholic laws were repealed or lapsed. The Social Democrats continued to grow and by 1891 were a significant group in the Reichstag. State Socialism was to some extent successful as the German working class remained relatively loyal to the empire. There may be some discussion of policies toward national minorities and the attempts at Germanization, which was successful to some extent, but Polish nationalism remained strong in the eastern part of the empire.