Caprivi was told that he would take over from Bismarck if Bismarck did not do what the Kaiser wanted . Caprivi became chancellor on 18 March 1890 . Caprivi was informed that he was the Kaiser 's intended choice should Bismarck prove resistant to Wilhelm 's proposed changes to the government , and upon Bismarck 's dismissal on March 18 , Caprivi became Chancellor .