Chancellors 1890-1900 Flashcards
What is Arbitration?
stepping in and sorting out disagreements
What is a Tribunal?
group of people arbitrating
What are Caprivi’s political leanings?
seems to be more on the left- socialist, trade unionists, liberals, centre party, industrialists are all happy
Why are the Industrialists happy?
less strikes, less hours, lower wages to pay
Who isn’t happy under Caprivi?
People who aren’t happy= Conservative Junkers
- Lots of the Junkers are in the army and in the Kaiser’s Court
What were Eulenberg’s political leanings?
more conservative, wanted to make Germany an autocratic state if the Reichstag and the Chancellor stopped listening to him
- For the anti socialist laws
- Kaiser wanted to agree, very unstable in his views
Who was Prince Choldwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst?
figurehead chancellor, limited political experience, no policies of his own
- Conservative representation decreased, anti socialist laws that were attempted to pass didn’t
- Posed no political threat to those who surrounded the Kaiser
- Disliked Centre Party + refused to oppose the Kulturkampf
- Limited political experience, mildly Liberal but happy to fight against the Conservatives’ ‘socialist threat’
- Figurehead chancellor
What is the state of the Reichstag in 1871?
1871 constitution would break as it was fixed, can’t change to changing political climate
Chancellor is IMPOSED, Reichstag feel like a minority government with little say
Growth of SPD and trade unionism (due to industrialisation and urbanisation)-> Kaiser interferes negatively
What was the Kaiser’s goal for Germany?
Wanted to be a world power
What is a sycophant?
someone who flatters someone important in order to gain advantage
What happened in Feb 1890?
Federal election. SPD seats rise from 11 to 35, Zentrum from 96 to 106. Conservatives, Free Conservatives and Liberals all lose seats.
What happened in March 1890?
Caprivi appointed Chancellor
What happened in July 1890?
Industrial tribunals were set up to arbitrate in wage disputes in July 1890. Caprivi invited trade union representatives to sit on these tribunals.
What happened in 1891: Finance Bill?
A finance bill introduced progressive income tax. The more a person earned, the more tax they paid.
What happened in 1891: Working Hours?
Sunday working was forbidden and a guaranteed minimum wage was established. 13-18 year olds were restricted to a maximum day of 10 hours. Women were restricted to 11 hour days. Employment of anyone under the age of 13 was forbidden.
What happened in 1891: Tariffs?
Caprivi reformed the Tariff Act of 1879 under two trade treaties in 1891 and 1894. Duties on imported wheat, rye, cattle and timber were reduced (Duties on industrial imports remained). The aim was to improve Germany’s export trade and enable industry to expand, though this left Germany more vulnerable to cheap foreign food imports.
What happened in 1892: Army?
Army Bill introduced at the Kaiser’s demand, in order to increase the size of the army by 84,000. To gain the Reichstag’s approval, Caprivi agreed to reduce military service from 3 years to 2 years and to allow the Reichstag to discuss the military budget every 5 years instead of every 7.
What happened in 1892: Chancellor role?
Caprivi chose to relinquish the post of Prussian Minister-President (previously combined with Chancellor), and he was replaced by Botho zu Eulenberg
What happened in June 1893?
Caprivi chose to relinquish the post of Prussian Minister-President (previously combined with Chancellor), and he was replaced by Botho zu Eulenberg
What happened Oct 1984?
Caprivi. He stated “My relations with the All Highest have become intolerable. You cannot imagine how relieved I will feel to get out of here.”
Hohenlohe appointed Chancellor.
What happened in 1894: Bill?
Subversion Bill introduced, but rejected by Reichstag.
What happened in 1898: Navy Law?
First Navy Law
What happened in June 1898?
Federal election. Zentrum the largest party with 102 seats. Number of SPD seats rises to 56. Conservative seats fall from 72 to 56. National Liberal seats fall from 53 to 46 seats.
What happened in 1899?
Anti-Union Bill introduced, but rejected by Reichstag.
What happened in Oct 1900?
Hohenlohe resigned.
What was Von Caprivi like?
○ Intelligent man, mildly progressive
○ Lack of political programme, was generally more liberal
What was Botho zu Eulenburg like?
- Supported Conservative opposition to Caprivi
Encouraged Kaiser to ignore wishes of the Chancellor
What did Caprivi want from the Reichstag as a goal?
- Wanted more Ministerial influence in policy making + greater cooperation in the Reichstag
What did Caprivi allow to lapse in 1890 + what did he replace it with?
- Allowed Anti Socialist Law to lapse in 1890-> replaced with reforms like
○ Industrial tribunals were set up to arbitrate in wage disputes in July 1890.
○ Hours of work for women were reduced to a maximum of 11.
○ In 1891, Sunday working was forbidden and a guaranteed minimum wage was established.
○ 13-18 year olds were restricted to a maximum day of 10 hours (working under 13 was forbidden.)
○ A finance bill introduced progressive income tax.
○ He reformed the Tariff Act of 1879: Duties on imported wheat, rye, cattle and timber were reduced under two trade treaties of 1891 and 1894 (Duties on industrial imports remained).
Who supported/ didn’t support the lapse of the Anti Socialist Bill in 1890?
- Welcomed by working class, socialists, liberals, Centre Party and industrialist BUT NOT conservative Junkers
What compromise agreement was made in 1893 and why?
- Compromise agreement in Reichstag 1893-> made in order to get support for Army Bill 1892 (At Kaiser’s demand) to increase size of military by 84,000 a year.
○ Caprivi agreed to reduce military service from 3 to 2 years + allowing Reichstag to discuss military budget every 5 years instead of 7 years
○ CONSERVATIVES SAW THIS AS HUMILIATING SURRENDER
What did the Kaiser do when Caprivi tried to follow his own initiative?
When Caprivi tried to take initiative and follow own policy, Kaiser wouldn’t let him
- Tried to reverse aspect of the Kulturkampf, allowing both Protestant and Catholic church authorities more control over education
- Wilhelm didn’t want to have to rely on the Centre Party to pass the bill, forcing him to withdraw out of proposed legislation
Over controlling even when it’s not in the best interest of the country
What was the Initial consensus on Socialism?
Initial consensus that Socialism could be fought with reform instead of repression
- SPD growth and attacks by anarchists
- Kaiser felt Anti-Socialists Laws were needed again, Caprivi refused to introduce
- Eulenburg encouraged Wilhelm to introduce the law anyways-> If Reichstag refused the bill, Kaiser could rule without a parliament (authoritarian)
- Caprivi talked the Kaiser out of this, then resigned
What did Holhenlohe do to curb socialism as Kaiser asked + how did Reichstag react?
Tried to do as the Kaiser asked to curb socialism-> 1894 Subversion Bill, 1899 Anti-Union Bill
- Proposed stiffer penalties for subversion and trade union activity but were thrown out by the Reichstag due to smaller Conservative majority than before (representation fell by 21% between 1893 and 1898)
What did the Kaiser do in response to his anti socialist laws being thrown out of Reichstag?
At this point the Kaiser was not prepared to bow to the wishes of the Reichstag majority, while the Reichstag was not prepared to accept the Kaiser and chancellor’s proposed legislation.
- Kaiser’s advisors (led Eulenburg) encouraged him to bypass the chancellor and choose his own ministers in 1897
Also believed following Weltpolitik (drive to achieve world power status) would help unite German people
How did the Kaiser begin to act?
Kaiser began to act as his own chancellor
- Worked with preferred ministers like Tirpitz and Bulow
Disagreement on German’s colonial policy gave Hohenlohe the excuse to resign
