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Previous to the Wilhelmine period, in the Era of Bismark, Germany had established itself
as a growing national power. During which many political and legislative reforms were
made, civil rights were granted, and the German states were unified. Bismark was able to
align Germany with many other European powers, intending to secure a position without
waging war. This marked a time of great economic expansion, national pride, unity, and
industrial growth. But, following Bismark’s removal from office in 1890, a new period
was entered, this one being characterized by imperialism and led by Emperor William II. A
man who was driven to further build unity and to create an empire that was comparable to
that of Great Britain, and respected as such. Many factors of the Wilhelmine period,
including industrialization, colonialism, military and cultural, illustrate how William II and
Germany were fixated on competing with Great Britain, helping force them and the rest of
Europe into World War I.
Following William II entrance into power, Germany hit an industrial boom. This was
largely due the growing use of electricity, railroads and chemical engineering, but even
more so by the huge increase in German population. The growing population was able to
push for the growth of new towns and a working class. “Germany’s output of
manufactured good went up by a multiple of five at a time when Britain’s output merely
doubled," this was great news to Germany (Fulbrook 138). William II was determined to
compete with Britain on every level, competing on an industrial level was a great
accomplishment. Britain had led the way in the Industrial Revolution, but Germany was
able to contend in the second wind, meaning Germany was not to be ignored.
Following the influx of industrialism, Germany set course to broaden their power through
imperialism. It was known that “a rapidly industrializing power needed markets for
manufactured goods, and sources of cheap raw materials, and in this connection also
needed to be able to compete with Britain" (Fulbrook 149). The answer to this problem
was colonial expansion, and for William II this meant a navy. Britain was well on its way
to becoming a world power, and Germany needed to accomplish the same. William II
came out saying “his most important aim was to follow Britain’s example" (Epkenhans
17). Britain had established a navy and had great success colonizing around the world, and
it was time for Germany to do the same. A naval fleet would allow Germany to expand and
