Q1 Response: How does Fichte define the nation? What is the significance of Fichte’s stress on continuity between contemporary Germans and their forefathers?
Fichte describes the nation as everyone who speaks the German language. With this in mind, he includes all men of similar sentiment and resolution – every German who believes himself to be a member of a (German) nation.
Fichte reminds his audience of the heroic acts of German forefathers in order to ignite a patriotic fire in his current day audience. He reminds them of their obligation to fight on for future generations for if they fail ‘..honor will be turned to shame..’. In addition, he imagines these former German generations calling out to ‘found the empire of spirit and of reason, …show more content…
Bismarck was in favor of universal male suffrage. First, he saw it as a way to discourage foreign monarchies like Austria from meddling in German affairs. Secondly, Bismarck believed that the German people would support universal suffrage once they realized the power of the vote to unify the German populace. Importantly, he stipulated that voting always be a public practice as secrecy was not held in favor by the German people and would make the masses vulnerable to ambitious, clever leaders.
Q2 Response: What political system and balance of social forces did Bismarck advocate?
Bismarck began as an archconservative but later moderated his views to more lenient conservative positions. First and foremost, Bismarck was a political realist who placed obtaining and keeping power above political concepts like justice or freedom. He promoted a constitution that gave the appearance of representation of the people with a bicameral legislature and freedom of the press. Actually, the constitution gave political influence and leverage to the conservative king. Bismarck felt there should be a balance between the greedy masses who could be swayed by oratory and the more educated property holders, who would fight to preserve their
Fichte describes the nation as everyone who speaks the German language. With this in mind, he includes all men of similar sentiment and resolution – every German who believes himself to be a member of a (German) nation.
Fichte reminds his audience of the heroic acts of German forefathers in order to ignite a patriotic fire in his current day audience. He reminds them of their obligation to fight on for future generations for if they fail ‘..honor will be turned to shame..’. In addition, he imagines these former German generations calling out to ‘found the empire of spirit and of reason, …show more content…
Bismarck was in favor of universal male suffrage. First, he saw it as a way to discourage foreign monarchies like Austria from meddling in German affairs. Secondly, Bismarck believed that the German people would support universal suffrage once they realized the power of the vote to unify the German populace. Importantly, he stipulated that voting always be a public practice as secrecy was not held in favor by the German people and would make the masses vulnerable to ambitious, clever leaders.
Q2 Response: What political system and balance of social forces did Bismarck advocate?
Bismarck began as an archconservative but later moderated his views to more lenient conservative positions. First and foremost, Bismarck was a political realist who placed obtaining and keeping power above political concepts like justice or freedom. He promoted a constitution that gave the appearance of representation of the people with a bicameral legislature and freedom of the press. Actually, the constitution gave political influence and leverage to the conservative king. Bismarck felt there should be a balance between the greedy masses who could be swayed by oratory and the more educated property holders, who would fight to preserve their