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To lessen the growing power of socialism, Bismarck

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Bismarck created social insurance programs for the German people.

Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor of the German Empire from 1871-1890, was not himself a socialist. But he is famed for introducing the first government programs for social welfare in the Western world. Socialism had the potential of fomenting revolution among the working class in Germany. So he implemented the sort of programs that we in the USA today would call Social Security. There was a Health Insurance Bill introduced in 1883, an Accident Insurance Bill in 1884, an Old Age and Disability Insurance Bill in 1889, and further protections offered by the state. These reforms to government policy gave socialists some of what they wanted for society and prevented socialist revolution.
User Sarah Haskins
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