National Liberal Party (Germany)

The National Liberal Party (Nationalliberale Partei) was a German political party which flourished between 1867 and 1918. It was formed by those Prussian liberals who put aside their differences with Bismarck over domestic policy due to their support for his highly successful foreign policy, which resulted in the unification of Germany. Its first chairman was Rudolf von Bennigsen.

Related Topics:
German - 1867 - 1918 - Bismarck - Rudolf von Bennigsen

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The National Liberals' period of great dominance was between 1871 and 1879, when they were Bismarck's chief allies in the Reichstag, and were avid supporters of the Kulturkampf. Bismarck broke with the Liberals in 1879, when he turned to protection, which violated the free trade principles of the National Liberals.

Related Topics:
Reichstag - Kulturkampf - 1879

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The National Liberals came to be closely associated with the interests of big business. Increasingly threatened by the growing strength of the Socialists, the party gradually became more conservative, although it was generally split between a more liberal wing that sought to strengthen ties with the dissident liberals to their left, and a right wing that came to support more protectionist policies and close relations with the Conservatives and the imperial government.

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During World War I, most of the National Liberals, including such leaders of their left wing as Gustav Stresemann, avidly supported the expansionist goals of the imperial government, although they also called for reform at home. Following the war, the party broke up, with its left wing joining the more left-liberal Progressives to form the German Democratic Party (Deutsche Demokratische Partei) and the bulk of the party (including Stresemann) forming the more conservative liberal German People's Party (Deutsche Volkspartei).

Related Topics:
World War I - Gustav Stresemann - Progressives - German Democratic Party - German People's Party

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