1900-14

Question 1

When was there a Miners strike?

Answer 1

4th January, 1900

Question 2

What were the mines like by 1900?

Answer 2

The average mine’s output had risen to 280,000 and the employment to about 1,400

Question 3

When was the Army Bill and what happened?

Answer 3

1913, Moltke, the Chief of Staff demanded another Army Bill to increase the peacetime strength of the army by 20% to 800,000 men in 1914

Question 4

What were the consequences of the Army Bill?

Answer 4

In order to finance it, an inheritance tax was accepted. Bethmann also introduced a special ‘defence tax’ on value of property. This was carried by the votes of the left-wing, even though the Conservative parties strongly opposed it. Both taxes expanded the class divide

Question 5

When was the Tariff Reform and what did it do?

Answer 5

1902, Tariffs restored to their pre-1892 level - moving to an economic policy of protectionism

Question 6

Why was the Tariff Reform significant in a political sense?

Answer 6

Demonstrated dominance of elite/middle class interests. Opposition to higher tariffs helped the SPD to make political gains

Question 7

What political gains did the SPD make following their opposition to higher tariffs?

Answer 7

In 1903, they gained an additional one million votes and 26 extra Reichstag deputies

Question 8

Why was the Tariff Reform significant in a economic sense?

Answer 8

Increased Germany’s bargaining power in trade negotiations and it peppered its tariff schedule with artificial distinctions designed to conserve its bargaining power.

Question 9

When was the Herero Uprsing and what happened?

Answer 9

1904-5, German colonial rule was harsh, led to an uprising. Crushed mercilessly by German colonial forces - genocide.

Question 10

What was the significance of the Herero Uprising?

Answer 10

Divided political opinion in Germany. Zentrum - goes against the Catholic belief of do not kill.
SPD - German workers aren’t that dissimilar to these people, creating empathy

Question 11

When was the Hottentot election and what happened?

Answer 11

1907, provoked by colonial events. Alliance of the ZP and SPD against increasing colonial budget. Led to an election being called.

Question 12

What was the significance of the Hottentot Election?

Answer 12

SPD seats decreased from 81 to 43 - because they went against the troops. ZP support increased from 100 to 105. Led to the development of the ‘Bulow Bloc’ coalition.

Question 13

When was the Eulenburg Scandal and what happened?

Answer 13

1907-9, Accusations of homosexual conduct at the heart of government (Phillip zu Eulenburg), similar to the Oscar Wilde trial in GB.

Question 14

What was the significance of the Eulenburg Scandal?

Answer 14

Eulenburg was dismissed. This highlighted how the Kaiser Reich was only a semi-absolutist state.

Question 15

When was the Boxer Rebellion and what happened?

Answer 15

1900, following the killing of two priests in 1899 by two Boxer members visiting a German missionary in Juye County, China. In response, the Kaiser dispatched German troops to the scene of the crime, which further angered the rebels

Question 16

What was the significance of the Boxer Rebellion?

Answer 16

Germany leads multi-nation intervention force - shows strengths as a global power, and a growing sense of militarism.

Question 17

What was the result of the 1912 Reichstag Election?

Answer 17

SPD now the largest party - 110 deputies but only the Progressive Liberals would work with them.

Question 18

Why didn’t the SPD oppose the Army Bill?

Answer 18

Pragmatic move - learnt from the Herero Uprising - don’t want to seem unpatriotic, thought it might give them the opportunity to set a precedent for progressive taxes.

Question 19

What were the economic consequences of the Army Bill?

Answer 19

Result of this was the Reich debt reached 5 billion marks by 1914 - influenced financial crisis following the First World War.

Question 20

When was the Zabern Affair?

Answer 20

November 1913

Question 21

What was the Zabern Affair?

Answer 21

German Officer von Forstner insulted the local Alsatians - was jeered in the street by locals. A crowd gathered outside the army barracks. Crowd were imprisoned by soldiers, led to protests. Kaiser didn’t intervene as he considered it a military affair and forbade Bethmann to explain his actions

Question 22

What was the result of the Zabern Affair?

Answer 22

Vote of no confidence against the Chancellor, 293 to 54 votes. Bethmann remained because only the Kaiser could dismiss him. Showed the Kaiser’s unflinching loyalty to the army. The Chancellor could act independently from the Reichstag if it was in the Kaiser’s interest. Reichstag was revealed as impotent in any direct confrontation.

Question 23

What was the Power of the German Elites like with the Kaiser?

Answer 23

Wilhelm was a shadow Kaiser for dominant elites determined to preserve their own position. Zabern demonstrates how the army could preserve its own authority despite a public opposition.