Otto von Bismarck introduced health insurance in 1883 and accident insurance in 1884. On 24 May 1889, the Reichstag passed insurance for old age and disability. The aim was also political: to bind the workers firmly to the government. Together with the law against the Social Democrats, the policy is known as Zuckerbrot und Peitsche, sugar bread and whip. Unemployment insurance followed under a law of 16 July 1927. It came into force on 1 October 1927 and created the national agency that is the predecessor of today’s Federal Employment Agency.