Final answer:
The second phase of Bismarck's foreign policy began in the 1880s with a shift toward colonial expansion, particularly in Africa, but ended with his dismissal by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1890.
Step-by-step explanation:
The second phase of Otto von Bismarck's foreign policy started after the unification of Germany in 1871. During this period, Bismarck's efforts shifted from military conquests and internal European politics to establishing Germany as an international power and colonial empire. Although Bismarck was initially uninterested in overseas empires, by the 1880s, he changed his stance, influenced by German merchants and public opinion. He then expanded Germany's colonial reach into various African territories. This shift in policy started around the 1880s, garnering colonies such as Togoland, German Cameroon, German South-West Africa, and German East Africa. However, Bismarck's expansionist approach was curtailed when Kaiser Wilhelm II dismissed him in 1890, favouring a more aggressive foreign policy towards achieving colonial dominance.