German Empire In 1871 Flashcards
When and where was the Kaiserreich proclaimed?
18th January 1871 in the Palace of Versaille following the Prussian-German success in the war against France (1870-71).
Who was the Emperor of Germany in 1871 and what powers did he have?
Wilhelm I of Prussia. He had the power to appoint/dismiss the Chancellor, dissolve the Reichstag, control foreign policy, make treaties and alliances, command the army, declare war/peace, and supervise all federal laws. He also had the right to interpret the constitution.
Who was the Chancellor in 1871, and what powers did he have?
Otto von Bismarck. Was the chief minister of the Reich and was responsible to the Emperor, not the Reichstag. He chaired sessions of the Bundesrat, could appoint/dismiss state secretaries responsible for the various gov ministries, and could ignore resolutions passed by the Reichstag
What was the Reichstag and what could it do?
The National Parliament, elected by all men over 25. Could accept/reject legislation but had limited powers to initiate new laws, state secretaries were excluded from membership and were not responsible to it, its members were unpaid, and members were elected every 5 years unless it was dissolved by the Kaiser.
What was the Bundesrat and what could it do?
Federal Council made up of 58 members, nominated by the state assemblies. Its consent was needed for passing new laws, and 14 votes constituted a veto. Prussia had 17 members, Bavaria had 6, and the other, smaller states had 1 each. This meant prussia alone could veto any law it wanted. In reality, the Bundesrat just rubber stamped the Chancellor’s policies.
What is a federal government?
A government in which several states, while independent in domestic affairs, combine for general purposes. The German Federal Government had responsibilities for the Reich as a whole, such as defence, foreign affairs, civil and criminal law, customs, railways, and the postal service.
What was state government?
The states within the Reich preserved their own constitutions, rulers, parliament, and administrative systems. They maintained considerable powers over taxation, education, police, local justice, and transport. Bavaria, Saxony, and Wurttemberg even kept their own armies. However, the states were not free to leave (Secede).
Why could you argue that the German political system was Autocratic?
The Kaiser ultimately held all power in Germany.
Why could you argue that the German political system was democratic?
The Reichstag and Bundesrat had consideral potential power
How was Prussia dominant in the Reich?
- Prussia possessed 90% of Germany’s population and 2/3 of its territory. Returned 235 deputies out of a total of 397 in the Reich. Prussia also held 17 seats in the Bundesrat.
- Prussian King (German Emperor) was head of the imperial executive and civil service and supreme warlord of the Reich’s armed forces.
- Apart from 1872-73 and 1892-96, the Imperial Chancellor was also the prime minister of Prussia. - Prussian and Imperial institutions were so intertwined that they could barely be distinguished.
- Prussia’s aristocracy held dominant positions in the political, military, and administrative structure of the Empire.
- The Prussian State Parliament was dominated by aristocracy, the rich, military, and Conservative civil service, which hindered the development of parliamentary democracy in Germany as a whole.
How was Prussia not dominant?
The identity of “old Prussia” was diluted by its integration into the Reich. It could no longer be governed without considering the interests of Germany as a whole. Its influence was slowly undermined by the need for making consessions to the states. Non-Prussians soon held important posts in the Reich and in Prussia. Most Germans now loyal to the new Reich.
What was Bismarck like as Chancellor?
He had an immensely strong position due to his reputation as the man who brought about Unification and his influence of Wilhelm I.
He loathed any rival authority so ensured that other ministers acted as mere senior clerks. Secretaries of state were not allowed to confer with the Kaiser without his permission.
Reduced power due to:
• Germany being a federal state
• Reichstag was a major constraint
• Long absences from Berlin, and poor health
What did people think of Bismarck as Chancellor?
Contemporaries viewed him as a ‘legend’.
Recent historians represent him as a lucky opportunist and criticise his vindictiveness, intolerance of criticism, and his bullying of others to get his way.
What did Bismarck think of the Reichstag?
Bismarck wanted power within Germany to remain in the hands of the Emperor, his army officers’, his minister’s, and the Chancellor’s (himself). Therefore he disliked the Reichstag somewhat and viewed them as a collection of squabbling politicians.
However, he was prepared to work with the Reichstag if they accepted his proposals or some compromise that he saw as acceptable. If they couldn’t reach an agreement, he would simply dissolve the Reichstag.
Why did the Reichstag politicians not utilise their power?
The balance of power was strongly in favour of the monarchy and most Germans remained very respectful of authority, believing it was right that the Emperor and his Chancellor should rule.
