1.1A&B What was Germany like before the First World War?

Question 1

When was the unification of Germany?

Answer 1

1871

Question 2

How was Germany divided before its unification in 1871?

Answer 2

It was divided by a collection of small states

Question 3

Which was the biggest and most powerful German-speaking state before the unification of Germany?

Answer 3

Prussia

Question 4

What happened when the king of Prussia decided to unify German-speaking states?

Answer 4

France, Austria and Denmark felt threatened to Prussia had to fight a series of wars against them

Question 5

Who became the leader of Germany when it was formed?

Answer 5

The King of Prussia became the German Emperor (Kaiser)

Question 6

Militarism def

Answer 6

A belief that a country should have strong armed forces

Question 7

Who formed the basis of the new united German army?

Answer 7

The Prussiam generals, army officers and tactics

Question 8

Bundesrat def

Answer 8

The collective name for the state representatives that that consult with the Kaiser over new laws

Question 9

What does reich mean in German?

Answer 9

Empire

Question 10

What were the first, second and third reich?

Answer 10

• First Reich: Holy Roman Empire
• Second Reich: New country of Germany created in 1871
• Third Reich: Hitler’s Germany

Question 11

Who was the Kaiser supported by?

Answer 11

• The chief minister called the Chancellor
• The parliament (Reichstag)
• The Bundesrat

Question 12

Who could vote for the Reichstag?

Answer 12

All men over age 25

Question 13

What was a problem faced by the Kaiser’s government?

Answer 13

The Kaiser could choose to ignore their advice and could make all decisions (including those related to the army, navy, and other foreign countries) on his own.

Question 14

When did Wilhelm become Kaiser and atc what age

Answer 14

In 1888, when he was 29

Question 15

Who was Kaiser Wilhelm related to?

Answer 15

He was the grandson of Queen Victoria and the cousin of George V

Question 16

When Wilhelm became Kaiser, how powerful was Britain?

Answer 16

• it was the world’s most powerful country
• it had the largest empire
• it dominated world trade
• it had a navy that was twice the size of its two closest rivals added together

Question 17

Who was the Chancellor in Germany?

Answer 17

An authority comparable to the Prime Minister

Question 18

Industrialisation def

Answer 18

Building up a country’s industry

Question 19

Explain how Kaiser Wilhelm II managed to achieve his goal of industrialisation in Germany

Answer 19

• He was supported by rich, powerful German business men
• By 1913 Germany was producting more iron and steel and as mcuh coas as Britain
• German companies also dominated Europe in industries such as electrical goods and chemicals

Question 20

Trade unions def

Answer 20

An organised association of workers in a trade, formed to protect and further their rights and interests

Question 21

What happened after Germnay became a big industrial power?

Answer 21

• factory, workshop and mine workers became unhappy
• wages were low, working conditions were poor and food was expensive
• working class people joined trade unions and organised strikes
• many voted for a new political party: SPD (Social Democratic Power)
• Some extremists wanted to rebel, start a revolution, take over the country and allow cities and towns to be governed by councils of workers
• the rise in socialism was potentially a major problem for the German government

Question 22

Socialism def

Answer 22

The idea that power and wealth should be shared equally among the people

Question 23

What was Kaiser Wilhelm’s character?

Answer 23

• very energetic and strong and outgoing
• charming and kind
• impatient and rude - if ministers didn’t do what he wanted, they would be sacked

Question 24

What was Kaiser Wilherlm’s career like?

Answer 24

• spent most of his youth in the army
• replaced his father when he died of cancer after only 3 months of beong Kaiser
• wanted to build a powerful army and large navy
• was interested in military tactics

Question 25

Name some examples of countries that had large overseas empires in the late 1800s

Answer 25

Britain, France and Portugal

Question 26

Weltpolitik meaning

Answer 26

Literally meaning ‘world policy’, this was the Kaiser’s plan to turn Germany into a global power

Question 27

What countries did Germany take over in the late 1800s?

Answer 27

Cameroons, East Africa, South West Africa, Togo, Kaiser Wilhelm Land

Question 28

What country is Kaiser Wilhelm land now?

Answer 28

Papua New Guinea

Question 29

What countries are East Africa now?

Answer 29

Rwanda, Burundi and parts of Tanzania and Mozambique

Question 30

Why does Germany have a culture of militarism?

Answer 30

• The Kaiser was Victoria’s grandson, he wants to have as great a navy as the British
• The Kaiser thought it would help Germany to take over more countries and protect those already in the German empire

Question 31

When were the naval laws introduced, what did they do and what consequences did they have?

Answer 31

• Introduced between 1898 and 1912
• They saw the German navy rapidly increase in size
• Huge sums of money were spent to achieve this, the Kaiser expanded the army as well
• Taxes were raised and money was borrowed to pay for this - Germany would remain in debt for a long time