1.1 - The origins of the Weimar Republic and revolution of 1918-19 Flashcards
What is the kaiser?
The emperor of Germany.
What is a chancellor?
Chief Minister (equivalent of prime minister in Britain)
What is a constitution?
An agreement method of governing a country, with the details usually written down and agreed on by those being governed.
What is the Weimar Republic?
a republic is a country without a hereditary ruler, such as a king or an emperor. The new government first met in weimar.
What is proportional representation?
the number of representatives from a given party is determined by the share or proportion of votes that party gains nationally.
What is a putsch?
a revolt, rebellion or uprising aimed at overthrowing the current government.
Why did kaiser Wilhelm II abdicate Germany?
because it became clear that Germany was losing world war 1.
Who was the new chancellor after the kaiser abdicated?
Friedrich Ebert.
When was the Weimar Republic formed?
November 9, 1918
What was the new German republic called?
the weimar republic
How was the Reichstag (lower house) elected?
it was elected by proportional representation. The vote was by secret ballot and universal suffrage. Elections were to be held at least every 4 years.
What is universal suffrage?
the right of all adults to vote in political elections
What was the Reichsrat (upper house) made up of?
it was made up of representatives from each of the German states. It could delay new laws.
What was the president in weimar Germany?
The president was the head of state and was elected every 7 years. The president appointed a chancellor to form a government. (the chancellor is similar to the prime minister in Britain)
How was the chancellor usually decided?
it was usually the head of the largest party in the Reichstag.
In weimar Germany, why was it difficult to get one party into power?
because governments were usually coalitions of different parties which tended not to last too long.
What is a coalition?
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate, reducing the dominance of any one party within that coalition. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament.
In the years immediately after the first world war, what was the weimar constantly under threat from?
extreme political groups
When was the spartacist revolt?
January 5, 1919
What was the spartacist revolt?
- In November 1918 a independent socialist state was created in Bavaria under the leadership of Kurt Eisner.
- Communists in Germany wanted a revolution similar to the one in Russian in 1917.
- In January 1919, Communist activists led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg seized power in Berlin and the Baltic ports.
- Within weeks, however, all the revolts had been crushed by regular troops and the Freikorps.
- The communist leaders were assassinated,
What were Freikorps?
Freikorps were German volunteer units that existed from the 18th to the early 20th centuries, the members of which effectively fought as mercenaries, many who had fought in world war 1.
When was the Kapp Putsch?
March 1920
What was the Kapp Putsch?
- In March 1920, Wolfgang Kapp, an extreme nationalist, and a group of Freikorps units seized power in Berlin.
- Kapp was not supported by the workers in the factories. The workers organised a strike in Berlin in support of the government. Within hours, the German capital came to a halt and supplies of gas, water and coal stopped.
- After 4 days, Kapp and his supporters gave up and fled Berlin. Ebert and the Weimar government returned to power.
What did many Germans see the new Weimar Republic as?
They saw it as a symbol of Germany’s defeat in the war. They were furious with the Government signing the hated Treaty of Versailles. German Nationalists saw democracy as weak.
