2.6 Social And Cultural Developments In Germany 1924-28 Flashcards
What was the conflict within the culture of German society?
Those who challenged traditional values in the name of modernity and those who resisted changes in an attempt to preserve the old German way of life
What is a means test?
A check on the financial circumstances of a benefit claimant in order to see if they are eligible for support
What were the the social welfare reforms
-1924 public assistance system(modernised)
-1925 state accident insurance system
-1927 national unemployment insurance system
What was the public assistance system?
it Provided help to the poor and destitute and was modernised
What was the state accident insurance system? 1925
Introduced by Bismarck to help those injured at work, extended to cover those differing from occupational diseases
What was the national unemployment insurance system?1927
Introduced to provide benefits for the unemployed, financed by contributions from workers and employers
Give evidence for the welfare system being expensive?
By 1926 the government was supporting
800,000 disabled war veterans
360,000 war widows
900,000 war orphans -old age pensioners (and after 1927 unemployment benefits)
How did the government afford the social welfare reforms?
Raised taxes and means tests were tightened up
Why were German workers able to improve maintain and improve living standards from 1924-28
Powerful trade unions negotiating wage increases
Which groups of people benefited from the social changes and why?
The workers and their living stands improved
Businesses owners as there was an improved trading position of the German economy
Which groups lost out during the cultural revolution?
-those who lost their savings in the 1923 hyperinflation crisis were unable to regain their previous lifestyles
-farmers suffered from poor trading conditions and low price (incomes of farmers falling)
What did the ‘new women’ in Germany symbolise?
How women’s lives had changed after the war, they were depicted as free, independent and able to make their own decisions about their lives
What had the Weimar government done to make women more equal to men?(3 asp)
-given them equal voting rights
-equal access to education
-right to equal pay
What was the real reason the new women occurred?
Gender disequilibrium as 2 German million men died in WW1, some women can’t live the childbearing housewife life -they were also brought into employment to replace the gap in the labour market
What hindered the extend of the ‘new women’
German civil code of 1896 remaining in force-said husband had right to decide on all matters concerning family life including wether his wife should undertake paid employment
What evidence is there to suggest that not all German society including women supported the new women?
League of German women 900,000 members promoted traditional values and maternal responsibilities of women
Evidence for women being equal in employment (3 asp)
-constitution gave women greater equality in employment rights
-by 1925 36% of German workforce were women
-by 1933 there were 100,00 women teachers and 3000 women doctors
Evidence for women being not being equal in employment (4 asp)
-‘demobilisation laws’ after war required women to give up jobs to returning soldiers
-in many instances women forced to up employment when they were married
-gender pay gap for the same work
-married working women attacked for double earners and reasons for male unemployment
Evidence for sexual freedom for women in Weimar Germany?
-birth control became more widely available and the birth rate declined
-increased divorce rates
-by 1930 1 million abortions a year
Evidence for women not having sexual freedom in the Weimar Republic?
-abortion criminal affect carried out by unqualified people(1930 10,000-12,000 death a year)
-decline in birth rate was attacked by conservative press that threatened health of the nation
-catholic and Protestant churches were vigorously opposed to birth control, divorce and abortion
Evidence for women not gaining equality in politics and public life?(5 asp)
-no women in reichstrat
-no women became a cabinet member in the Weimar Republic
only KPD offered equality but it was not appealing
-parties who gained the most from female vote(centre) did nothing to support feminist issues
What is a gymnasium school?
A school that provided classical education, children would remain here for 9 years before taking a university entrance examination (teaching methods were very authoritarian with cruel punishments)
Statistic for youth unemployment in 1925-1926
17% or unemployment in 14-21 age category
Evidence for women gaining equality in politics and public life?(3 asp)
-women gain equal voting rights and the right to be in the Reichstag
-1919 41 women elected to the Reichstag ( but number of women fell in subsequent elections)
-women active in local gov at state and city level
