Título: Wilhelm II, German Emperor
Seção: Break with Bismarck
Background: Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert von Hohenzollern; 27 January 1859 - 4 June 1941) was the last German Emperor (Kaiser) and King of Prussia, ruling the German Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia from 15 June 1888 to 9 November 1918. He was the eldest grandchild of the Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and related to many monarchs and princes of Europe, most notably King George V of the United Kingdom and Emperor Nicholas II of Russia. Acceding to the throne in 1888, he dismissed the Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, in 1890. He also launched Germany on a bellicose "New Course" in foreign affairs that culminated in his support for Austria-Hungary in the crisis of July 1914 that led in a matter of days to the First World War.

Conteúdo: The impetuous young Kaiser, says John C. G. Rohl, rejected Bismarck's "peaceful foreign policy" and instead plotted with senior generals to work "in favour of a war of aggression." Bismarck told an aide, "That young man wants war with Russia, and would like to draw his sword straight away if he could. I shall not be a party to it." Bismarck, after gaining an absolute majority in favour of his policies in the Reichstag, decided to make the anti-Socialist laws permanent. His Kartell, the majority of the amalgamated Conservative Party and the National Liberal Party, favoured making the laws permanent, with one exception: the police power to expel Socialist agitators from their homes. The Kartell split over this issue and nothing was passed.  As the debate continued, Wilhelm became more and more interested in social problems, especially the treatment of mine workers who went on strike in 1889. He routinely interrupted Bismarck in Council to make clear where he stood on social policy. Bismarck sharply disagreed with Wilhelm's policy and worked to circumvent it.  Bismarck, feeling pressured and unappreciated by the young Emperor and undermined by his ambitious advisors, refused to sign a proclamation regarding the protection of workers along with Wilhelm, as was required by the German Constitution. The final break came as Bismarck searched for a new parliamentary majority, with his Kartell voted from power due to the anti-Socialist bill fiasco. The remaining powers in the Reichstag

user: What was Break with Bismarck

assistant: The impetuous young Kaiser, says John C. G. Rohl, rejected Bismarck's "peaceful foreign policy" and instead plotted with senior generals

user: Why did he reject

assistant: to work "in favour of a war of aggression." Bismarck told an aide,

user: Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?

assistant: As the debate continued, Wilhelm became more and more interested in social problems, especially the treatment of mine workers

user: What kind of social problems

assistant: especially the treatment of mine workers who went on strike in 1889. He routinely interrupted Bismarck in Council

user: Why did they go on strike

assistant: CANNOTANSWER

user: What else stood out in this article

assistant: Although Bismarck had sponsored landmark social security legislation, by 1889-90, he had become disillusioned with the attitude of workers.

user: What did he do next

assistant: In particular, he was opposed to wage increases, improving working conditions, and regulating labour relations. Moreover, the Kartell, the shifting

user: Shifting what?

assistant: the shifting political coalition that Bismarck had been able to forge since 1867, had lost a working majority in the Reichstag.

user: What else did the Emperor do

assistant: Bismarck sharply disagreed with Wilhelm's policy and worked to circumvent it.

user: How did he circumvent it

assistant: Bismarck, feeling pressured and unappreciated by the young Emperor and undermined by his ambitious advisors, refused to sign a proclamation