Domestic Politics In Wilhelmine Germany? Flashcards
What social measures did Caprivi push through?
Sunday work was prohibited.
Employment of children under 13 was forbidden.
Women were not allowed to work for more than 11 hours day.
Industrial courts were set up to arbitrate disputes.
In what ways did Caprivi embark on a “new course”?
He wanted a more consultative approach to government.
He was able to depend a fair bit on the backing of the reichstag.
Caprivi and the German tariff reforms
In order to encourage exports, Caprivi negotiated a series of treaties with Austria - Hungary, Italy and Russia. These treaties led to a reduction in German tariffs.
Why were the tariff reforms important?
Therefore they not only acted as a vital spur to the growth of German economy, but also represented a political triumph for Caprivi. It gained broad support as most parties, except the conservatives, recognised the benefits of lower food prices.
Why did the conservatives oppose the new course?
Many of the Kaiser’s advisors at court began to disagree with Caprivi’s socialist policies. Some encouraged him to ditch Caprivi and assume a more ‘personal rule’.
Why did landowners oppose the new course?
Upset by the commercial treaties since they threatened to reduce their profits. 1893 the Agrarian league was set up to win support for landowners. It quickly grew into a well organised lobby of 1 million members that acted as a pressure group.
Why did the military oppose the new course?
Resentment in 1893 when Caprivi made concessions over the army bill in the reichstag by reducing the length of conscription for national service from three years to two. Army bill was rejected resulting in the reichstag being dissolved. There were concerns of anarchy across Europe and an increase in socialist seats.
Weltpolitik aims
Aimed for colonial gain, economic sphere of influence, and naval expansion.
Weltpolitik and the German navy
Navy league argued that naval expansion was a patriotic symbol of Germany’s new status in the world. It gained membership of over 1 million.
Political impacts of Weltpolitik
Successfully rallied both the upper and middle class and their political representatives in the reichstag.
Bulow and the problems of Weltpolitik - social reforms
Aimed to expand the social welfare provision in order to pacify the working class.
Bulow and the problems of Weltpolitik - tariffs
Conservatives and agrarian league demanded imposition of higher tariffs to protect agriculture.
In contrast social democrats called for lower tariffs to reduce price of bread and benefit the working class.
Tariff law of 1902
The law saw social democrat popular vote go up significantly and their number of seats rise from 56 to 81.
The conservatives saw their vote decline.
Bulow and the problems of Weltpolitik - Budget
Budget - Ran into debt due to mounting costs of maintaining the army and expanding the navy.
Substantial tax increase needed to maintain weltpolitik.
1905 - imposed indirect taxes and inheritance taxes. Social democrats voted down the indirect tax and conservatives weakened the inheritance taxes.
Bulow and the ‘Hottentot election’
Bulow’s government attacked for its policy in the colony of German South west Africa. Social democrats and shockingly the centre party voted against his government.
The governments campaign was called the ‘Hottentot’ election.
The daily telegraph affair
Kaiser made comments on foreign policy to foreign press. (Britain)
Demands in the reichstag for constitutional limitations to be placed on the Kaiser.
Impacts of the DTA
Impacts - chancellor had retained the backing of the Kaiser and gained support through the policy of weltpolitik.
But his failure to stand with the kaiser during the daily telegraph affair showed how vulnerable the office was.
Political stalemate - the Reichstag
Reichstag elections of 1912 added to chancellors difficulties as there was a clear shift to the political left. The social democrats became the largest German left with 35 per cent of the votes. They won 110 seats; the conservative centre alliance could no longer dominate the reichstag.
Political stalemate - military spending
In the wake of the second Moroccan crisis the army and navy both wanted more funding.
In early 1913 Moltke demanded a second army bill to increase peacetime strength of the army to 800,000 men in 1914.
Political stalemate - the Zabern affair
Friction between the French citizens and German soldiers led to disturbances and in November 1913 officers ordered locals to clear the streets. This led to widespread protests. In effect it was felt that the army had infringed the liberties of citizens.
What does the Zabern affair show?
The incident shows that the Kaiserreich was still dominated by the personal rule of the Kaiser and his supporters. Evident in that although Bethmann despite a defeat in the reichstag but was still chancellor shows the Kaiser’s ultimate control.
What were the effects of Zabern?
In effect it was felt that the army had infringed the liberties of citizens.
The Zabern crystallised the divisions in German politics and society, is the reichstag Bethmann, unlike Bulow stood by the army and the Kaiser but the political opposition was tense.
Structuralists - the Kaiser as the “shadow Kaiser”
He was considered s front for the elites who were determined to manipulate him, and the government in order to preserve their own privileged positions.
Never the less the huge public outcry against the army’s actions was evidence that public movements were on the increase and pressures were bubbling up to bring about genuine democracy.
