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Why did Otto von Bismarck expect universal male suffrage to support conservative parties?

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Map showing the German Empire as it existed from 1871 to 1918, with its borders outlined and regions color-coded. The map highlights the Kingdom of Prussia in green and the full extent of the German Empire in yellow, including regions such as Bavaria, Saxony, Westphalia, and East Prussia. Neighboring countries like France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Austria-Hungary, and the Russian Empire are also labeled. Major cities such as Berlin, Munich, and Hamburg are marked. — German Empire The German Empire, 1871–1918.

Otto von Bismarck proposed universal manhood suffrage for the North German Confederation constitution because he believed the rural population would reliably vote for the Conservative or Free Conservative parties.12

At the time, approximately two-thirds of Germany was rural, and Bismarck anticipated that this demographic would support the existing social and political order rather than the urban-based liberal parties. By implementing this system, he aimed to secure a conservative base in the Reichstag that would counterbalance the influence of the educated and propertied middle class, whom he identified as the primary force behind the liberal revolution.123

Ultimately, Bismarck’s expectation proved flawed. He had not accounted for the emergence of new political forces, such as the Centre Party and the Social Democratic Party, which successfully mobilized voters and challenged the conservative character of the German Empire.12