Bismarck and Wilhelm II 1871-1914

Question 1

What was the ethnic make up of Germany by 1871?

Answer 1

60% Prussian
Catholics in the south and Bavaria
Large Jewish population
Minority groups of French, Danes and Poles

Question 2

What were the characteristics of the 1871 constitution?

Answer 2

Democratic but also authoritarian
Universal male suffrage made it progressive

Question 3

What was the role of the Kaiser?

Answer 3

Head of state
Head of military
Could dismiss/appoint chancellors

Question 4

Examples of how Germany was able to be an economic powerhouse:

Answer 4

Coal deposits in the Rhineland, Saar and Ruhr
A young and technically educated population

Question 5

Examples of New Industries:

Answer 5

Chemicals, Electronics, Ersatz products

Question 6

Evidence supporting the decline of agriculture:

Answer 6

As a portion of GNP, agriculture fell from 40% in the 1880s to 25% by 1914
Synthetic foods and refrigeration reduced agricultural demand
Reliant on Bismarck’s tariffs to compete with cheap foreign grain

Question 7

Evidence opposing the decline of agriculture:

Answer 7

By 1907 35% of the population was still employed in agriculture
In the 1900s, Germany produced 40 million tonnes of potatoes a year

Question 8

Why did Bismarck’s alliance with the Liberals suit him?

Answer 8

He was focused on increasing unification which Junkers and Catholics weren’t interested in

Question 9

How did Bismarck retain support of the Liberals?

Answer 9

The Kulturkampf

Question 10

Examples of the terms of the Kulturkampf:

Answer 10

Financial aid to catholic churches was ended and Jesuits were forbidden from preaching at schools

Question 11

How many seats did Zentrum win in the 1874 elections?

Answer 11

91

Question 12

How did Bismarck increase military spending in 1874?

Answer 12

By allowing the Reichstag to review military spending every 7 years

Question 13

How did Bismarck revenge the passing of the military reviewing within the Reichstag?

Answer 13

By passing the Press Laws

Question 14

How did the Liberals impact Bismarck’s authority?

Answer 14

They reduced it

Question 15

How did Bismarck manage to get the Conservatives and Zentrum greater representation in the Reichstag in the 1878 elections?

Answer 15

By using an assassination attempt on the Kaiser by a plumber from the SPD as propaganda denouncing the Liberals as too weak to protect Germany

Question 16

Why did Bismarck need support on the Conservatives and Zentrum?

Answer 16

In order to pass his tariff reform

Question 17

What was the alliance of Steel and Rye?

Answer 17

Collaboration between Junkers and newly split right wing faction of the Liberals

Question 18

Positives of tariffs:

Answer 18

Protected domestic industry against cheap, foreign grain
Made Bismarck increasingly popular with Junkers and Industrialists
Created job security

Question 19

Drawbacks of tariffs:

Answer 19

Increased costs for workers

Question 20

What were some of the terms of Bismarck’s Anti-Socialist Laws?

Answer 20

SPD couldn’t stand candidates
Soicalist meetings were prohibited
Trade Unions were banned
Magazines and publications were limited

Question 21

How did Bismarck attempt to gain support of workers?

Answer 21

State socialism
This was ineffective

Question 22

What was introduced under state socialism?

Answer 22

Medical Insurance 1883
Accident Insurance 1884
Old age pensions 1889

Question 23

How were the Anti-Socialist Laws a success for Bismarck?

Answer 23

Limited opposition in the short run

Question 24

How were the Anti-Socialist Laws a failure for Bismarck?

Answer 24

Gave the socialists more determination to be successful
Gained support after the implementation of these laws
Won the 1912 elections

Question 25

Evidence of Bismarck's strong political authority:

Answer 25

Anti-Socialist Laws reducing opposition Able to reorganise the Reichstag in order to pass the tariff reform Used his influence to orchestrate a war scare regarding Alsace-Lorraine in 1886 to increase taxation for military spending by creating a more right-wing Reichstag

Question 26

Evidence of Bismarck's weak political authority:

Answer 26

Anti-Socialist Laws created a stronger socialist movement Could do very little under Wilhelm II Reichstag created red tape for his policies e.g. tariff reforms, 1886 war scare

Question 27

What did Wilhelm II remove Bismarck over?

Answer 27

Increasing Anti-Socialist Laws Increasing military expenditure

Question 28

Effective opposition to Bismarck:

Answer 28

Wilhelm II Reichstag in the 1880s

Question 29

Ineffective opposition to Bismarck:

Answer 29

Socialists (despite growing numbers had little influence due to AS Laws) Reichstag at times e.g. tariffs, Press Laws, 1886 war scare

Question 30

Evidence for elites maintaining authority:

Answer 30

Bismarck from a Junker background Tariff reforms Pressure leagues Alliance of Steel and Rye

Question 31

Evidence against elites maintaining authority:

Answer 31

Universal Male Suffrage reduced their political influence Decline of Agriculture Reduction in military influence e.g. review on spending every 7 years, increased spending policies rejected

Question 32

Evidence for workers being in a better position:

Answer 32

High wages Development of industry State socialism Rise of socialism representing their views Tariffs Bismarck reflected many views of rural peasants Universal Male Suffrage

Question 33

Evidence against workers being in a better position:

Answer 33

Anti-Socialist Laws Decline of agriculture Poor urban living conditions e.g. rise of illegitimate children as a result of prostitution

Question 34

Evidence for significant economic development:

Answer 34

Development of old and new industries Urbanisation Growing economic competitiveness e.g. largest exporter of chemicals globally

Question 35

Evidence against significant economic development:

Answer 35

Decline of agriculture Alliance of Steel and Rye's dependency on tariffs

Question 36

Evidence for Wilhelm II's poor character

Answer 36

1908 Daily Telegraph Affair 1913 Zabern Affair Known as "The Travelling Kaiser" due to the amount of time he spent on his yacht

Question 37

Characteristics of Wilhelm II's chancellors

Answer 37

Caprivi - Moderate to socialism Hohenlohe - Was a puppet and wasn't a threat to those surrounding the Kaiser Bulow - Attempted to push patriotism despite dropping anti-socialist measures, known as "the Eel" Hollweg - Failed to push patriotism

Question 38

Key policies of Caprivi

Answer 38

New course (Abandoned anti-socialist laws, reduction of tariffs, a recognition of trade unions, a progressive tax system and social reforms such as reductions in working hours) 1893 - National service from 3 years to 2 years and military review every 5 years instead of 7 in exchange for an increase in the army by 84,000 men.

Question 39

Key policies of Hohenlohe

Answer 39

1894 Subversion Bill (anti-Socialist) rejected by Reichstag 1899 Anti Union bill (anti-Socialist) rejected by Reichstag

Question 40

Key policies of Bulow

Answer 40

1902 New Tariff law to create funds for the Navy Imposed a tax on legacies as tariff revenue wasn't sufficient for the Navy Abandoned anti-Socialist sentiment of Sammlungspolitik

Question 41

Key policies of Hollweg

Answer 41

1913 Increased the size of the army, funded by tax on the value of property Lost a vote of no confidence in 1913 but was kept anyway

Question 42

Evidence for struggle between autocracy and democracy under Wilhelm II

Answer 42

1913 Hollweg kept despite losing the vote of no confidence Constant changing of chancellors Growing socialist vote showed opposition to the Kaiser's policies

Question 43

Effective opposition to Wilhelm II

Answer 43

SPD became largest socialist party in Europe by 1914, won in 1912 with 1 in 3 Germans voting for them 1918 Revolution - end of the monarchy due to widespread discontent regarding the war e.g. 2.7 million deaths, 1916 Turnip winter

Question 44

Ineffective opposition to Wilhelm II

Answer 44

Despite the SPD's growth, they were limited by Wilhelm II's lack of recognition to parliamentary power

Question 45

What was the political condition of Germany by 1914?

Answer 45

Wilhelm II had little regard for democracy e.g. Zabern Affair Chancellors heavily dependent upon Wilhelm II

Question 46

What was the economic condition of Germany by 1914?

Answer 46

Successful and rapid industrialisation allowing Germany to be one of the world's key exporters High wages for workers 1/3 of Nobel Prize winners from 1909 to 1914 were German

Question 47

What was the social condition of Germany by 1914?

Answer 47

Elites retained their influence and titles

Question 48

How did Bismarck impose a taxation of 10% in order to increase military spending in 1886?

Answer 48

By mongering a war scare with France regarding Alsace-Lorraine