Germany 1900-1914: Growing Democracy or entrenching authoritarian?

Question 1

What social reforms did Bulow introduce to benefit the working class?

Answer 1

• an extension of accident insurance in 1900
• a law making industrial courts compulsory in towns with a population above 20,000 people
• an extension of the prohibition of child labour

Question 2

Who demanded higher tariffs to protect agriculture?

Answer 2

• landowners working with the Conservatives

- the Agrarian league opposed Caprivi’s commercial treaties

Question 3

Who demanded lower taxes?

Answer 3

• The Social Democrats & Left Liberals

Question 4

Why did Social Democrats and Left Liberals demand lower taxes?

Answer 4

• to reduce the price of bread for the benefit of the wc

Question 5

When was the Tariff Law passed?

Answer 5

1902

Question 6

What did the Tariff Law of 1902 do?

Answer 6

• restored tariffs to pre-1892
• this raised the prices of bread
• Social democrats who opposed tariffs, saw an increase in their seats from 56 to 81 in the election

Question 7

Weltpolitik:

Answer 7

budget had run into debt after costs of maintaining the army and expanding the army

Question 8

1905

Answer 8

• Bulow suggests an increase in either indirect taxes or inheritance taxes
• the Centre Party and the Socialists voted down the indirect taxes
• the conservatives and allies watered down the inheritance tax until it was insignificant

Question 9

What did the Centre Party and others vote against?

Answer 9

an increase budget for colonial government after revelations about atrocities and brutality during the Herrero revolt 1904-5

Question 10

Daily Telegraph Affair

Answer 10

1908-09

Question 11

What was the Daily Telegraph Affair?

Answer 11

• In an interview the kaiser expresses wishes for closer relations with Britain
• people criticised the kaiser for making important statements on foreign policy to the foreign press
• there were demands in the Reichstag for constitutional limitations to be placed on the Kaiser

Question 12

What happened as a result of the Daily Telegraph Affair?

Answer 12

• The Kaiser made a promise to Bulow that in future the constitution would be respected

Question 13

1912

Answer 13

Reichstag Elections

Question 14

What were the results of the 1912 Reichstag Elections?

Answer 14

• Social Democrats won 110 seats
• Left-Liberals won 42 seats
• conservative fears increased of democratic and socialist revolution

Question 15

1913

Answer 15

Zabbern Affair

Question 16

What was the Zabbern Affair?

Answer 16

• Conflict arose between the French inhabitants and German soldiers
• officers ordered locals to clear the streets
• citizens were arrested and detained in military barracks
• one officer used his sabre to cut down a disabled cobbler

Question 17

How many people were arrested in the Zabbern Affair?

Answer 17

28

Question 18

What happened as a result of the Zabbern Affair?

Answer 18

• widespread protest
• people felt the army officers acted above civilian authorities, the courts and infringed the liberties of citizens
• army defended itself by claiming to be accountable to the Kaiser alone
• Wilhelm condoned the action

Question 19

What did the Zabbern Affair show?

Answer 19

-the kaiserreich was still dominated by the actions, decisions and personality of the Kaiser and his supporters