After Unification
The Unification of Germany is considered Bismarck's greatest political achievement. He was appointed Chancellor in 1871 and forced to resign in 1890. In that time he accomplished many more things under the Chancellorship of the German Empire. He is remembered by some for his alleged bullying of France, keeping them out of their affairs with other nations and preventing France from allying with them.
Bismarck also established an anti-Catholic Kulturkampf, or culture struggle, early in his term as Chancellor. This stemmed from a fear that Pius XI and his successors to the Vatican would claim Papal infallibility to maintain some degree of political power.
Retirement and later years
Bismarck was 16 years older than Wilhelm I and so did not expect to see his heir ascend to the throne. However he did, and he felt distanced and unappreciated by the new emperor. In 1890 he resigned from the position of chancellor. Bismarck lived another eight years, mostly out of the political spectrum. His wife Johanna died in 1894. Bismarck himself passed away in July of 1898.