Western Civ: William Gladstone and the Kulturkampf

The Kulturkampf was a seven-year political conflict that occurred in Germany. It was between the Catholic Church in Germany, led by Pope Pius IX, and the kingdom of Prussia, led by Chancellor Otto von Bismark. It was a struggle on the part of the German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck to subject the Roman Catholic Church to state controls. It came into use in 1873. The Kulturkampf failed to achieve its goals. The Catholic Church and its followers resisted the state's measures, and by the late 1870s, most of the most harsh regulations were repealed. Despite its short-lived nature, the Kulturkampf had a significant impact on German society, leaving a legacy of tension between religion and politics.

What arguments did Gladstone make in favor of Home Rule for Ireland? He argued that when a thirst for power gets involved in politics, resentment will be the result.