German federal election, 1878

The general election in 1878 was the election to the 4th German Reichstag. It took place on 30 July 1878. Due to the circumstances, it is also known as the attack choice.

The turnout was about 63.4 % (other source: 63.1 %) and, marginally higher than in the general election in 1877.

After a failed assassination attempt of the worker Max Hodel on Kaiser Wilhelm I on May 11, 1878 Chancellor Otto von Bismarck had called for a ban of the Social Democrats. The majority of liberal Reichstag had it rejected for constitutional considerations. A second assassination attempt, carried out by Karl Eduard Nobiling on 2 June 1878 in which the emperor was injured, led to further excitement in the population and pressure on the moderate forces. Then was the Reichstag in accordance with Article 24 of the Constitution of the Federal Council and the Emperor - was dissolved on 11 June - quite on Bismarck's desire. First of all National Liberal swung now to the camp of those who wanted to fight the law and police the Socialists.

The election campaign was conducted in order to the Bismarck demanded especially by conservative forces Socialist Law. With the Congress of Berlin, which ended two weeks before the election, Bismarck was able to increase his prestige.

The election was clearly won by the Conservatives. The other hand, losers were the liberals. The Social Democrats lost seats.

The fourth parliament finally approved the Anti-Socialist Law with 221 to 149 votes. For the Conservatives and National Liberals, on the other hand especially the center, the German Progress Party and the Social Democrats voted in itself, however, were allowed to continue to carry out their mandates.

The next important milestone in the legislature was the introduction of protective tariffs, which was adopted in July 1879 with the votes of the Conservatives and the Centre. The National Liberal Party was deeply split on the issue and voted inconsistently; both representatives of the right and of the left wing left the party. The latter were later with other Liberals, the Liberal Association. The liberal-minded Prussian minister Adalbert Falk, Karl Rudolf Friedenthal and Arthur Johnson Hobrecht resigned. The fierce resistance of the weakened " left-liberal ", ie manchester liberal parties with the word leader Eugen Richter was ultimately in vain, the vote ended with 217 to 117 votes. The introduction was especially demanded by the lobby group the Central Association of German Industrialists, dealing with the agricultural stakeholders - had joined the " coalition of rye and iron " and intervened in political campaigns - they dominated the conservative parties.

Result

Elected representatives by constituencies

In each of the 397 constituencies, a deputy was elected by absolute majority vote. If no candidate in the first ballot won an absolute majority, a runoff between the top two candidates was performed. The following tables list the winners and their constituency referred to in the official results party status be specified.

Prussia

Bavaria

Saxony

Württemberg

Baden

Hesse

Small States

Alsace-Lorraine

Fractions of 4 Reichstag

In the 4th Reichstag, several MPs did not join the fraction of their actual party and remained partially attached Member. The DHP- MPs joined the Centre Party. At the beginning of the legislature, the Reichstag fractions had the following strength:

In the further course of the legislature changed due to elections and faction change several times the strength of the individual fractions.