Syllabus+19th+Century+Europe

Specific Policies of Gladstone and Disraeli to Promote Social Welfare in Great Britain in the Late-19th Century

William Ewart Gladstone (Liberal Party)

1. Education Act of 1870: Established a framework for compulsory education, which increased access to education for children in England, promoting literacy and education for the poorer classes.

2. Public Health and Housing: Gladstone's government supported improved public health measures and regulations regarding housing conditions, addressing the needs of the urban poor and facilitating better living standards.

3. Trade Union Laws: He repealed laws prohibiting trade unions, which allowed workers to organize and negotiate for better wages and working conditions.

4. Budget Reforms: Gladstone implemented financial reforms to alleviate poverty, including tax reforms aimed at reducing the burden on the working class and funding social services.

Benjamin Disraeli (Conservative Party)

1. Artisans’ Dwellings Act of 1875: Allowed local councils to buy slum housing to improve living conditions and combat overcrowding in cities.

2. Public Health Act of 1875: Consolidated earlier health acts providing for clean water, sanitation, and better housing standards to improve health among the working class.

3. Factory Acts: Disraeli's administration supported legislation that regulated working hours and conditions, particularly for women and children.

4. Social Legislation: He introduced various social reforms aimed at directly addressing the needs of the industrial working class, which included expanding access to public services and infrastructure.

Rise of the French Third Republic and the Dreyfus Affair

1. Third Republic Formation: The French Third Republic was established after France's defeat in the Franco-Prussian War (1870-71). It aimed to restore stability and democracy while promoting republican values in a politically fractured environment.

2. Dreyfus Affair (1894-1906): This political scandal involved the wrongful conviction of Jewish army officer Alfred Dreyfus for treason, highlighting deep-rooted anti-Semitism in French society. The affair polarized French politics and society, dividing those who supported Dreyfus (Dreyfusards) and those who upheld the military establishment.

3. Link to Anti-Semitic Episodes: The Dreyfus Affair was part of a broader resurgence of anti-Semitism in Europe, including pogroms against Jews in Russia during the late 19th century. These episodes demonstrated the vulnerabilities of Jewish populations facing scapegoating and discrimination amid social and political strife.

Policies of Otto von Bismarck (Realpolitik)

1. Kulturkampf (Culture Struggle): Initiated to reduce the power of the Catholic Church in Germany, Bismarck's Kulturkampf sought to assert state control over schools and religious appointments. This policy resulted in tensions between the state and the Church, reflecting Bismarck's policies of secularization and nationalism.

2. Social Welfare Policies: To preempt social unrest and the rise of socialism, Bismarck implemented several social welfare policies, including health insurance, accident insurance, and old-age pensions. These measures aimed to improve the lives of workers and integrate them into the state structure, demonstrating Bismarck's pragmatic approach to governance through social reform.

3. Realpolitik Approach: Both Kulturkampf and social welfare policies exemplified Bismarck's realpolitik—pragmatically addressing issues of state control and worker dissatisfaction while seeking to maintain stability and power in a rapidly changing society.