Editing History of Germany (section)

===Overview===
[[File:Flag of the German Empire.svg|thumb|Flag of the [[North German Confederation]] (1866–1871) and the [[German Empire]] (1871–1918)]]
[[File:Deutsches Reich1.svg|thumb|Imperial Germany 1871–1918]]

Chancellor [[Otto von Bismarck]] determined the political course of the German Empire until 1890. He fostered alliances in Europe to contain France on the one hand and aspired to consolidate Germany's influence in Europe on the other. His principal domestic policies focused on the suppression of socialism and the reduction of the strong influence of the Roman Catholic Church on its adherents. He issued a series of anti-socialist laws in accord with a set of social laws, that included universal health care, pension plans and other social security programs. His [[Kulturkampf]] policies were vehemently resisted by Catholics, who organized political opposition in the Center Party (Zentrum). German industrial and economic power had grown to match Britain by 1900.

In 1888, the young and ambitious Kaiser [[Wilhelm II of Germany|Wilhelm II]] became emperor. He rejected advice from experienced politicians and ordered Bismarck's resignation in 1890. He opposed Bismarck's carefully considered foreign policy and was determined to pursue colonialist policies, as Britain and France had been doing for centuries. The Kaiser promoted the active colonization of Africa and Asia for the lands that were not already colonies of other European powers. The Kaiser took a mostly unilateral approach in Europe only allied with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and embarked on a dangerous naval arms race with Britain. His aggressive and ill-considered policies greatly contributed to the situation in which the assassination of the Austrian-Hungarian crown prince would spark [[World War I]].