Changes in society, 1924-29 Flashcards
In 1924, What percentage of the total possible workforce was unemployed?
over 4% of the total possible workforce
How much did unemployment improve
comparing years
1926 - 2 million
1928 - 1.3 million
How was help for the unemployed improve?
through the Unemployment Insurance Act of 1927
when was the Unemployment Insurance Act
1927
what was the Unemployment Insurance Act of 1927
charged workers 3% of their wages and in return provided an average of 60 marks per week in unemployment and sickness benefits if they fell out of work
How were work and wages changed?
- mention the problems still faced
- working hours reduced
- wages rose by 25% from 1925-28
however - hyperinflation made employment insecure
- wealthier Germans resented seeing workers benefitting
How was housing changed?
- 15% rent tax was introduced to fund building associations
- Between 1925-29: 101,000 homes were built
- there was still housing shortages but things had improved
How were war veterans helped?
- War veterans were offered help under the 1920 Reich pension law. Pensions were paid to 750,000 war veterans, 400,000 war widows and 200,000 parents of dead servicemen
How effective were the improvements to the standard of living?
- improvements in social conditions in the Weimar republic were fragile
- employment remained insecure and the loss of savings during the inflation of 1923 still caused hardship
- not everyone was pleased by social improvements
When were women given the right to vote and to stand in elections and what was the result?
1918
90% turned out at the elections
by 1932, 112 had been elected the Reichstag- almost 10% of the members were female
which article of the Weimar constitution gave women more rights, and what did it include
Through Article 109:
- women had equal rights with men
- marriage was an equal partnership, with equal rights on both side
- women should be able to enter all professions on an equal basis with men
What was the percentage of women at work in 1918 and 1925?
1918 - 75%
1925 - 36%
- few women secured high-status jobs
In jobs where women and men did the same work how much less were women paid than men on average?
33%
What were women expected to do when they were married?
give up work
Examples of progress for women at work?
- the retail and service sectors produced plenty of part-time jobs in shops and offices
- some professions like education and medicine offered new opportunities to women
- women were encouraged to go to university
what were “new women”
women who grew up during the war and were used to the financial and social independence
How did new women express their independence and what was their behaviour like?
- wearing short hair, more make-up, more jewellery, more revealing clothes
- they smoke and drank more and went out unaccompanied
- less interested in marriage and family = took advantage of liberal sexual attitudes which had developed during the war
Why was the behaviour of new women not liked by some men and women?
- felt like traditional values were being eroded
- they pointed out that they were a threat to motherhood, family and good housekeeping
- as evidence, they pointed out that the birth rate was falling and the divorce rate was rising
How did women and men react to changes in society?
- some women felt liberated by the new opportunities and freedom
- other women found the expectation that they should change a scary or daunting challenge
- some men accepted it but some men thought the changes were inappropriate and threatened the role of men in society
How did conservatives and traditionalists in society react to changes?
complained loudly that women should concentrate on being mothers and wives and not challenge the male-dominated society
why were changes for women the source of many social tensions?
because of the attitudes towards men and woman had towards it. (remember some found changes for women a threat to men’s role in society)
How did education improve?
- more young people’s aspirations were met
- the number of students in higher education rose
