AP European History Practice Test 2, Section I, Part A (^) ‹ 257
- This passage most clearly shows the influence of
which of the following trends in Europe in the
second half of the nineteenth century?
A. The birth of constitutionalism
B. The blending of nationalism with liberalism
C. The birth of popular nationalism
D. The blending of nationalism with con-
servativism - In the passage, how is Bismarck attempting to
portray his government?
A. As servants of the people
B. As absolute rulers
C. As leaders who deserve to be followed
D. As loyal opposition to the party in power - According to Bismarck, what was the role of the
state?
A. To fulfill all social objectives that are worthy
of being fulfilled
. B To fulfill no social objectives but rather
leave them to private individuals and the
community
C. To fulfill social objectives that have been
demanded by the people
D. To fulfill social objectives that it alone can
fulfill
Questions 35–37 refer to the passage below.Yesterday Deputy Bamberger compared the business of government with that of a cobbler who measures shoes, which
he thereupon examines as to whether they are suitable for him or not and accordingly accepts or rejects them. I am by
no means dissatisfied with this humble comparison.... The profession of government in the sense of Frederick the
Great is to serve the people, and may it be also as a cobbler; the opposite is to dominate the people. We want to serve
the people. But I make the demand on Herr Bamberger that he act as my co-shoemaker in order to make sure that no
member of the public goes barefoot, and to create a suitable shoe for the people in this crucial area....
For it is an injustice on the one hand to hinder the self-defense of a large class of our fellow citizens and on the
other hand not to offer them aid for the redress of that which causes the dissatisfaction. That the Social Democratic
leaders wish no advantage for this law, that I understand; dissatisfied workers are just what they need. Their mission
is to lead, to rule, and the necessary prerequisite for that is numerous dissatisfied classes. They must naturally oppose
any attempt of the government, however well-intentioned it may be, to remedy this situation, if they do not wish
to lose control over the masses they mislead....
The whole problem is rooted in the question: does the state have the responsibility to care for its helpless fellow
citizens, or does it not? I maintain that it does have this duty.... It would be madness for a corporate body or a
collectivity to take charge of those objectives that the individual can accomplish; those goals that the community
can fulfill with justice and profit should be relinquished to the community. [But] there are objectives that only the
state in its totality can fulfill.... Among the last mentioned objectives [of the state] belong national defense [and]
the general system of transportation.... To these belong also the help of persons in distress and the prevention of
such justified complaints.... That is the responsibility of the state from which the state will not be able to withdraw
in the long run.Otto von Bismarck, “Reichstag Speech on the Law for Workers’ Compensation,” 188426_Bartolini_QuesPrac2_243-268.indd 257 27/04/18 10:17 AM