Chapter 1 ; Germany and the growth of the democracy Flashcards
Prior to unification, which state was the most powerful?
Prussia
When did Germany become unified?
1871
When did Germany become unified?
1871
Who became Kaiser?
Wilhelm II
Where was Wilhelm king before Germany?
state of Prussia
How was Wilhelm related to Queen Victoria?
her grandson
How was Wilhelm related to King George V?
cousins
Define militarism
country having strong armed forces
Why did Wilhelm believe in militarism?
Was important to state of Prussia
What was the Chancellor?
chief minister to Kasier
What was the Bundesrat?
representatives from each German state
What was the Bundesrat dominated by?
Prussians
What was the Reichstag?
parliament
Who elected those in the Reichstag?
men 25+
What was the problem with the parliamentary government?
Kaiser could ignore advice and make decisions on his own
What did the Reichstag do?
debate and vote laws
What did the Kaiser make decisions on alone?
military policies
foreign policies
When were the naval laws made?
1898-1912
What was the role of Alfred von Tirpitz?
Secretary of State of the German Imperial Naval Office
What was the naval law of 1898?
have 7 battleships
What was the naval law of 1900?
have 38 battleships
What was the naval law of 1906?
6 more battleships
dreadnoughts
What was Wilhelm’s ‘Weltpolitik’?
having an empire to rival Britain’s
What does weltpolitik mean?
world policy
Why did the naval laws cause debt?
borrowed money to grow army and build navy
How much debt was Germany in as a result of the naval laws in 1913?
490 billion marks
How many workers were in trade unions in 1913?
3 million
Why did workers join trade unions?
poor working conditions
low wages
How many Germans voted for the Social Democratic Power?
1/3 of population
What did the SPD believe in?
socialism
rebel + revolution
Define socialism
power + wealth shared equally
How many Germans had fought in WWI?
11 million
How many German troops died in WWI?
2 million
How much did Germany’s debt increase by between 1914 and 1918?
trebled
50 million -> 150 million
How many Germans died of food shortages in WWI?
750,000
Why did Wilhelm abdicate?
had lost control
When was the Kiel mutiny?
28th October 1918
When did Kaiser abdicate?
9th November 1918
What was the Kiel mutiny?
soldiers refused orders
shot each other
Who took over when the Kaiser abdicated?
Ebert, leader of SPD
When was the Armistice signed?
11th November 1918
Who signed the armistice?
new Weimar Republic
In what year was Germany producing more steel and iron than Britain?
1913
In what year was Germany producing equal amounts of coal?
1913
Who were attracted by the industrialisation in Germany?
eastern european immigrants
What industries did Germany dominate Europe in?
chemicals
electrical goods
How many people were living in towns and cities by 1910?
60%
What problems did the navy laws cause?
raised taxes
increased debt
army generals jealous
SPD opposed
Why did the government make social reforms between 1891 and 1903?
prevent increased popularity in SPD
What was made illegal in 1891 in social reforms?
children U13 to work
women to work 11+ hours
work on a sunday
What was made law in 1900 in social reforms?
time off after accident
What was made in 1901 in social reforms?
industrial courts
What was the purpose of industrial courts?
settle disputes between employers and employees
Where were industrial courts compulsory?
200,000 + people
What was done in 1903 in social reforms?
health insurance expanded
Who were the November Criminals?
politicians who signed ToV
What did the temporary leader Ebert announce that Germany was?
democratic republic
When did the Spartacists take control of Berlin?
6th January 1919
Who fought the Spartacists when they took Berlin?
Freikorps
What were the key points of the Weimar constitution?
- freedom of speech and religion
- equality under the law
- everyone over 20 could vote
- elected president and Reichstag
What is a constitution?
rules setting out how a government should work
When was the Weimar Constitution complete?
August 1919
What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution?
- november criminals made
- proportional representation
- disliked
- article 48
Why was the proportional representation in the Weimar Constitution a weakness?
lots of parties
no majority
law making v slow
Why was the involvement of the November Criminals in the Weimar Constitution a weakness?
linked to surrender in WWI
Why was the disliking of the Weimar Constitution a weakness?
powerful people disliked it
Who disliked the Weimar Constitution?
army generals
upper class
judges
factory owners
What were the three key impacts of war on Germany?
bankruptcy
divided society
political instability
Why was Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution a weakness?
president had too much power
What was article 48?
in national emergency, president could make any law without going through Reichstag
How often was the President of the Weimar elected?
7 years
What does proportional representation mean?
percentage of national vote = percentage of seats in parliament
What were the strengths of the Weimar Constitution?
most advanced democracy in Europe
Reichstag elected by proportional representation
right of free speech and religion
clear balanced system
Why is the clear balanced system in the Weimar a strength?
no group or person had too much power
president ; chancellor, reichstag
electorate ; president
Why did the Treaty of Versailles create challenges to the Weimar?
reparations
military restrictions
land taken
war guilt clause