1.3 The Creation of the Weimar Republic Flashcards
What are socialists and communists? Give examples of German parties.
Communists are more radical than socialists and base their ideas on Karl Marx. Both want change based on the general population.
In Germany:
Moderate Socialists - SPD Party
Radical Socialists - UDP Party
Extreme Communists - KPD or Sparticists
What are radicals? Give examples of German parties.
It means extreme - those who want great change.
Radical left wing parties such as the Sparticists
Radical right-wing parties such as the Nazis
What are conservatives? How do they relate to German politics in 1918?
Uusally measn the same as right wing. They want to conserve or keep things as they are.
In 1918, German conservatives hoped to maintain the Second Reich, with a strong monarchy
Conservative groups remained suspicious and hostile to democracy
After the Kaiser’s abdication, what took control of Germany in November 1918?
A Council of People’s Representatives
Give details of the first elections held after the Kaiser’s abdication
The elections were held on the 19th January 1919 to create a new National Assembly and the results were positive for those promoting democracy.
The election had an 82% turnout and moderate parties gained the most seats.
Ebert’s party, the SDP, gained 40% of the seats.
Why is the Weimar Government called the Weimar Government?
The new National Assembly met in Weimar because it was too dangerous to meet in Berlin, where they would traditionally meet.
How did the Weimar Government work?
It granted every German citizen the freedom of speech and religion, and equality under the law
All men and women over the age of 20 could vote.
It set up parliamentary democracy in which the elected Reichstag (parliament) made the laws and appointed the government.
The head of the government was the Chancellor. He was elected every 7 years (same as the President)
In additionm the Weimar Republic consisted of 18 states, each state had its own parliament, passed its own laws and ran its own police force.
Who was Ebert?
He was a saddler who became one of the leaders of the SPD.
In Nov 1918 he became Chancellor
In February 1919 he became President.
He sought support from both workers and the elite in order to bring peace
What did Ebert compromise on?
He kept the state running smoothly by keeping the civil servants from previous governments and telling them to work with the new workers’ and soldiers’ councils
He reassured industrial leaders that the new government would not take state control over private industries
He promised trade unions that the new republic would try to reduce working hours to an 8 hour day
What opposition was there to Ebert?
Many of the country’s senior figures such as army leaders and judges did not support the democratic republic
Many Germans wanted the Kaiser to return
Many Germans were influenced by the 1917 Russian Revolution and wanted a communist revolution
