Bismarck ends the Kulturkampf and outlaws the Social Democrats

Background. The Kulturkampf, a conflict between the Catholic Church and Prussia, spanned 1871 to 1878. Bismarck initially pursued this struggle but abandoned it in 1878 to preserve political capital. He needed the Centre Party's votes for his new battle against socialism, which led to a decline in National Liberal support and a shift toward conservative alliances.

Legislative Shift. The Anti-Socialist Laws were passed in October 1878 following two failed assassination attempts on Emperor Wilhelm I. Bismarck blamed the Social Democratic Party for these attacks, despite lacking direct support for this claim. The law was approved by the Reichstag and signed by the Emperor, marking a decisive legislative action against social democratic endeavors.

Political Consequences. The passage of the Anti-Socialist Law relied on votes from conservative parties and National Liberals. This shift contributed to the decline of National Liberal ties with Bismarck by 1879. The law was subsequently renewed multiple times, indicating its sustained impact on German political life and the social democratic movement.