Changes in society, 1924-29 Flashcards
Changes in the standard of living - Unemployment and unemployment insurance
Unemployment rates fell from 2 million in 1926 to 1.3 million in 1928.
The Unemployment Insurance Act of 1927 meant that workers were charged more to pay for the unemployed.
Changes in the standard of living - Work and wages
The length of the working week decreased from 50 hours in 1925 to 46 hours in 1927, but the real wages (VALUE OF GOODS THAT WAGES BOUGHT) also increased by 25%.
Changes in the standard of living - Housing
A 15% rent tax meant that new houses could be built by private companies to eliminate the housing shortage.
There was still a housing shortage, but it had eased by 1928.
Changes in the standard of living - Other improvements
War veterans received pensions through the Reich Pension Law. War widows and parents of dead servicemen were also paid.
Changes for women in the Weimar Republic - Women in politics
SPD believed that women had to be rewarded for their hard work during the war. They were given the right to vote and stand for elections, had equal rights to men, made marriage an equal partnership and were able to enter all professions (including men’s).
Changes for women in the Weimar Republic - Women at work
Women were still doing jobs which were originally only done by men like during the war.
But they were being paid 33% less than men and were expected to give up the job after marriage.
But there was a lot of progress in part time shop and office jobs, and liberal jobs like education and medicine, although high status professions like law was still low for women.
Changes for women in the Weimar Republic - Women at leisure
Young, unmarried women (‘New women’) living in cities became independent as they were able to have high paying jobs.
They bought more clothes and went out, wore short hair, more makeup, smoked, drank, etc.
Not everyone was happy - they were concerned about the change in traditional aspects of society (birth rate was falling, divorce rate was rising since women were ignoring their role as mothers and wives).
Cultural changes in the Weimar Republic - Art
Cause of change - restrictions of the old imperial regime of the Kaiser was thrown off, the constitution prioritised freedom, economic recovery after 1924 brought more money to arts.
Ideas - new objectivism (show reality as it is, with poverty and squalor), modernism (find beauty in cities and industry), expressionism (reflect thoughts and feeling of the artist).
Cultural changes in the Weimar Republic - Architecture
Design of futuristic buildings influenced by the bauhaus movement (stressed the beauty in technology, simple lines and careful craftsmanship).
Cultural changes in the Weimar Republic - Cinema
Films focused on science fiction and horror. They were well funded by the government.
Cultural changes in the Weimar Republic - Opposition
The left wing thought that money should be spent on people needing basic help, rather than on extravagance.
The right wing thought that the changes undermined traditional German culture.
