Germany 1890-1914 Flashcards
What were key traits of Wilhelm II as a ruler?
-believed in the divine right of kings
-not content with Wilhelm l passive role and wanted to show strength.
-More interested in the military than politics, boasting that he had never read the constitution.
-Wanted to establish ‘personal rule’
-Was erratic and unpredictable, surrounding himself only with people who bolstered him.
How could you argue that Wilhelm II was/wasn’t the real political force controlling Germany?
-His personality had a major impact on Germany
-He built an autocratic semi-absolutist system that he could lead in.
However…
- He lacked the ability to direct policy or influence real decision-makers.
-He reigned but didn’t rule.
-The power was actually held by the elite (Junkers, high-ranking civil officials, etc.)
-These elites were largely Prussian, and the 1871 constitution allowed them to dominate, but they had to seek an alliance with industrialists.
What is ‘Sammlungspolitik’ ?
‘policy of concentration’ where conservative forces united to protect their own influence and power by targeting liberalism and socialism as enemies of the Reich to unify Germans around these conservative forces.
What liberal groups were there attempting to shift power away from Prussia?
-pressure groups e.g. Agrarian league, centre of association of German industrialists, Navy League, Pan-German League, Imperial German Mittlestand.
-Non-Prussian regions
-Catholicism.
Who were Wilhelm II First two chancellors?
General Leo Von Caprivi and Prince Choldwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfurst.
What good and bad did General Leo Von Caprivi do?
-Caprivi wanted to set a ‘new course’ for German politics, aiming to give ministers more influence over policy making.
-progressive policies such as a finance bill introducing progressive income tax and 13-18 year olds work days being restricted to 10 hours.
-However, he did alienate the conservative Junkers through his reform attempts and reduction of military service, which to the conservatives was a humiliating surrender.
-The Kaiser would often interfere with Caprivi’s policy making him withdraw legislation.
-Caprivi resigned due to poor relations with the Kaiser.
What good and bad did Prince Choldwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfurst do?
-He was only selected because he posed no political threat to the Kaiser, and had limited political experience and no obvious policies of his own, referred to by the Kaiser as a ‘straw doll’
-As the Kaiser’s interest in ‘Weltpolitik’ grew, he became in practice his own chancellor, and Choldwig stopped being at the heart of policy making.
What Political and Social consequences did Germany’s economic growth prior to the First World War have?
Positives:
-Higher literacy and employment rates
-Germany catching up with Britain and America in strength, increasing national pride.
-Bankers were willing to give big loans due to positive economy.
Negatives:
-Greater class divides
-environmentally destructive (high pollution)
-Decrease in life expectancy.
What were the key reasons for Germany’s economic growth prior to World War I?
-The first industrial revolution based on steel, coal, textiles, iron and railways.
-The second industrial revolution sae the development of new industries such as electrical engineering, chemicals, machinery, and the motor car industry.
-Germany’s higher education system was deemed the best in the world, with university enrolment doubling between 1890 and 1914.
-By 1913 Germany controlled half the world’s trade in electricals, and by 1914 three-quarters of the worlds chemical dyes.
-The positive attitude of banks in this time period meant there was plenty to invest in research and industry.
-Nearly every industry had a cartel.
- Individuals drove change e.g. Karl Benz who mass produced the worlds first inexpensive car.
-Bismarck’s import tariffs helped protect this industrial growth.
What were the key political events from 1900-1913?
-Zabern Affair
-Vote of no confidence
-Eulenburg scandal
-Herero Uprising
-Tariff Law
-Hottentot election
-SPD in the Reichstag
- Bulow’s Budget vote
-Daily Telegraph Affair
What was the Zabern Affair (+ vote of no confidence)
-In 1913 A young officer made rude remarks about the citizens of Alsace which led to demonstrations, and 28 citizens were detained, triggering more protests.
- The Kaiser didn’t punish the men, and Chancellor Bethmann-Hollweg rejected criticism but had a vote of no confidence of 293 to 54 from the Reichstag. However this had little impact as the Kaiser dismissed it, which displays the power of the Kaiser but also the influence of public opinion.
What was the Hottentot election?
The government were looking to compensate white settlers and repress rebels, but the centre party and SPD joined to vote against this. This resulted in the Reichstag being dissolved, and the Bulow campaign criticising the SPD, resulting in them losing almost half of their seats.
What was the Eulenburg Affair?
in 1906 journalist Maximillian Harden began exposing homosexuals in high positions, and in 1907 he accused Eulenburg, the Kaiser’s best friend. This triggered a series of trials, threatening Bulow, who was also homosexual, and the Kaiser was forced to cut off Eulenburg and Moltke.
What was the Daily telegraph Affair?
Wilhelm made tactless remarks in the Daily telegraph about Britain, which Bulow had allowed to be published, weakening the Kaiser’s trust in him. This led to uproar from the press who suggested abdication, however the whole affair didn’t result in any constitutional changes.
What was the Tariff reform in 1902?
Tariff reform restored tariffs to before Caprivis changes, benefiting the wealthier people in society and raising money for the Army.
