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History Advanced Information > Germany - Ruling the Second Reich, 1971-79 > Flashcards

Germany - Ruling the Second Reich, 1971-79 Flashcards

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1
Q

Most powerful states in the German Confederation?

A

Prussia and Austria

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2
Q

What state dominated the German COnfederation?

A

Austria

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3
Q

When did the Prussian king bring together 20 German state? What was this called and why was it ineffective in the long-term?

A

May 1849, Erfurt union, it was ineffective because it left out Austria and Austria pressure saw it abandoned (leading to Austria regaining political leadership)

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4
Q

Austria’s empire

A

Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania

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5
Q

Germans supporting Austria or Prussia

A
  • Some German states supported a ‘greater Germany’ (grossdeutsch) led by Austria
  • Some other states supported a ‘little Germany’ (kleindeutsch) led by Prussia
  • Some feared Germany would be controlled by the unlta-conservative Prussian monarchy
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6
Q

Bismarck’s foreign policy, 1862-71

A
  1. Schleswig-Holstein - Prussia administered Schleswig and Austria administered Holstein
  2. War - disagreement over the Schleswig-Holstein issue led to war in 1866 between Prussia and Austria. Prussia won at the battle of Koniggratz due to superior weaponry
  3. Treaty of Prague - led to the creation of a German State (North German Confederation, 2/3 of all Germans) ruled by Prussia in August 1866, 4 states (Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden and Hesse-Darmstadt) remained independent
  4. Franco-Prussian War (1870-71) - France thought they might gain more from a prolonged war between Prussia and Austria, and Bismarck claimed that a united Germany could only happen after France had been defeated. France were defeated at the Battle of Sedan
  5. Unification, 1870 - Battle of Sedan led to a fully unified German state - the German Empire. The 4 independent states joined this
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7
Q

Why did France declare war, leading to the Franco-Purssian war?

A
  • In 1870, the Spanish offered their throne to the Prussian Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern
  • The French were fearful of being surrounded by Prussian influence, and demanded the offer to be turned down
  • Wilhelm I (Prussian King), agreed to this, however France went on to say that no Prussian could ever take the Spanish throne. This was refused and France declared war
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8
Q

When was the Battle of Sedan?

A

September 1870

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9
Q

When and where was the German Empire declared?

A
  • 18th January 1871

- Palace of Versailles

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10
Q

Who was declared Kaiser of the German Empire?

A

Wilhelm I (Prussian King)

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11
Q

What did Bismarck take as compensation for the Franco-Prussian war?

A

Alsace-Lorraine and £200,000 from France

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12
Q

Kaiser

A
  • Hereditary monarch
  • Appointed/dismissed government
  • Has the power to dissolve the Reichstag
  • Controlled foreign policy and armed forces
  • Could interpret the constitution
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13
Q

Reichstag

A
  • Members (deputies) elected by male suffrage
  • Could agree/reject laws proposed by Kaiser or government
  • Main power was control of the budget
  • Could not remove the Kaiser or government
  • Elected every 5 years (unless dissolved)
  • Members were not paid
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14
Q

Government - chancellor and other ministers

A
  • Appointed/dismissed by the Kaiser
  • Proposed new laws to the Reichstag
  • Not dependent on Reichstag support to say in power and could ignore them
  • Chaired sessions of the Bundesrat
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15
Q

Bundesrat

A
  • Had 58 members nominated by state (Länder) assemblies: 17 were Prussian, 6 were Bavarian, and smaller states had one each
  • Could veto legislation passed by the Reichstag with just 14 votes (of the 58)
  • Had extensive powers, but basically just rubber-stamped the Chancellor’s policies
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16
Q

Electorate

A
  • Men over 25 could vote in Reichstag elections every 5 years
  • Voted for local state assemblies
  • Written constitution but no statement of individual rights
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17
Q

National liberals

A
  • Formed in 1867
  • Party of the Protestant middle class
  • Led by Rudolf von Bennigsen
  • Its main priority was to build a strong German state
  • Its second aim was to build a liberal constitutional state
  • It was backed by Bismarck until 1878
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18
Q

Centre Party

A
  • Catholic party
  • Strongest support in the south (e.g. Bavaria, Baden, the Rhineland, Silesia, Polish population on the eastern side of Prussia)
  • Began to gain more votes from the national groups (Poles, French, etc.) over the course of the 1870s
  • Opposed the Declaration of the German State when it was founded in 1871
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19
Q

SAPD

A
  • Formed in 1875
  • Socialist workers’ party
  • Close links with trade unions
  • Fought for social reforms
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20
Q

German Conservative party

A
  • Mainly Prussian landowners
  • Disliked unification
  • Supported Bismarck after 1878
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21
Q

Free Conservatives

A
  • Mainly landowners, industrialists, etc…

- Backed Bismarck throughout

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22
Q

The Progressives

A
  • Liberal party
  • Main aim was to build a liberal constitutional state
  • Was less supportive of Bismarck compared to the National Liberals
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23
Q

What fraction of Germany was catholic?

A

1/3

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24
Q

Bismarck’s new constitution

A
  • Each of the 22 royal rulers were given substantial powers under Wilhelm I
  • Each German sovereigns were equal - this wasn’t actually true as the Kaiser controlled the military service and the military
  • The Kaiser was able to proclaim imperial laws that superseded state laws
  • The Reichstag was established, all (election) votes were equal and elections took place every 5 years
  • A single German currency was created, as well as standardised measurements and weights
  • A national legal system was introduced
  • A national civil service was introduced
  • The German railway system linked up between the states
  • The German flag was created in 1892
  • German army was made up of 4 states: Prussia, Bavaria, Württemberg and Saxony. Each army remained loyal to their king of state, except in times of war when the Kaiser was put in charge of the army
25
Q

Powers of the Länder Parliaments

A
  • Each of the 25 states were allowed to retain their own constitutions
  • Retained control over education, transport, direct taxation, policing and health
  • Southern states had more privileges: formation of a unified army through 4 separate ones, own railway and postal systems, exempt from taxes in beer and spirits - this was because Bismarck made deals with them so that they’d join the Northern Confederation in 1871
26
Q

Dominance of the Kaiser and Prussia

A
  • Unified military: Prussia (show of dominance), Bavaria, Württemberg, Saxony
  • Prussian political dominance, Landtag was the Prussian parliament
  • 14 delegates to the Bundesrat were from Prussia and always represented the interests of the wealthiest in Prussian society (Junkers)
  • Had supreme control over military and government appointment ensured policy would remain favourable to the interests of the Prussian elites
27
Q

Bismarck limiting the power of the Reichstag

A
  • Stated that Reichstag members would receive no payment therefore making it extremely difficult for the less privileged classes to run for election
  • Allowed the Reichstag to vote on all legislation (in order for it to pass) but they couldn’t initiate legislation; this was presented by the chancellor or the Bundesrat
  • Allowed the Bundesrat to veto all legislation from the Reichstag and neither the chancellor, military chief nor the Kaiser were accountable for the Reichstag
  • Decided that if the Reichstag did reject any legislation from the chancellor or the Bundesrat, the Kaiser could dissolve the Reichstag and call for new elections
28
Q

Power of the Reichstag - Bismarck’s problem

A
  • Concessions were made - this was because the Reichstag was frequently voting on legislation as Bismarck’s new Reich needed new laws. It would be difficult to dissolve the Reichstag every time they disagreed with him
  • Control of the budget - life could be made difficult if Bismarck was too confrontational
  • Reichstag members enjoyed parliamentary immunity and debates were widely reported in the press - they could embarrass and question the ministers and the chancellor
  • Universal male suffrage led to the development of political parties with popular appeal - these couldn’t be ignored due to mass appeal, he needed to work with the Reichstag for more widespread support for his policies
  • Bismarck considered changing the constitution in 1880s due to the considerable power of the Reichstag
29
Q

Importance of the army in Germany

A
  • Made up of 4 state armies, with Prussian soldiers being the dominant group
  • In time of war, the army came under Kaiser control
  • Prussian generals had much more power and had huge influence over government policy due to their links with the Kaiser
  • Conscription meant that all German men served in the army for 2-3 years, and this enabled the spread of Prussian values, as well as patriotism
  • The needs of the army came first - this was because the army formed the German state in 1871 (through war), meaning it was special to Germans
  • The army budget wasn’t renewed annually, meaning it was dependent on the Reichstag
30
Q

Reichstag and the army budget

A
  • 1867 - Bismarck and the National Liberals had agreed that the military budget should remain fixed outside of Reichstag control until 1872
  • This was extended in 1874 after the Franco-Prussian war
  • 1874 - Bismarck presented a law that said an army over 400,000 men would automatically be financed by federal expenditure. 80% of federal expenditure was spent on the army, so this created a problem for the Reichstag
  • This led to opposition from the National Liberals. Bismarck accused them of trying to undermine the military strength of Germany and threatened to call for new elections. A compromise was eventually reached: military budgets were fixed for 7 years at a time
31
Q

German People’s party (DVP)

A
  • Opposed the creation of a unified Germany

- Mainly based in the south of the country

32
Q

What % of the vote did the national groups (Poles, French, Danes) win in 1874?

A

10%

33
Q

What % of the vote did the SAPD attract in the 1870s?

A

7%

34
Q

What % of the vote did the National Liberals gain in 1871?

A

30.1%

35
Q

What % of the vote did the National Liberals gain in 1874?

A

29.7% - they still remained the largest party in the Reichstag

36
Q

Bismarck’s work with the National Liberals (1871-79)

A
  • Legislation related to free trade passed in the early 1870s
  • Freedom of movement restrictions were removed
  • A standard legal system was introduced
  • Laws restricting the charging of interest loans were removed
  • Weights and measurements were standardised across the country
  • The Reichsmark became the sole currency of Germany
  • Import duties on certain metal products were removed
37
Q

Why did Bismarck work with the National Liberals?

A
  • They believed in free trade, economic unity and support for constitutional change towards greater democracy and civil liberties for all Germans
  • They were the largest party
  • They both feared support towards the growing Centre Party, which they believed was a threat towards national unity
38
Q

Bismarck’s break with the National Liberals

A
  • Increased tension between them in the 1870s - Bismarck refused to extend parliamentary power in the Reichstag
  • Bismarck split the National Liberals (1873 economic crisis meant that he could introduce tariffs to protect German farmers and industry, which contrasted with their free-trade ideology) and worked with the more right-wing members
  • 1878 - Bismarck’s pro-tariff message was seen as too patriotic, so many voters switched to the Conservative party
  • 1879 - a tariff bill split the National Liberals further
39
Q

Votes to the National Liberals in 1878?

A

23.1%

40
Q

When did the National Liberals officially split?

A

August 1880

41
Q

What two parties did the National Liberals split into?

A
  • Conservative National Liberals Party

- Liberal Union

42
Q

Who won the 1881 election?

A

Liberal Union and Progressive Party (21.1% between them) - they merged to form the German Free-Minded Party in 1884, which became the 2nd most popular after the Centre Party

43
Q

Syllabus of Errors

A

These set out the Catholic church’s stance in various philosophical and political questions

44
Q

Declaration of Papal Infallibility

A

This declared that all of the Pope’s teachings were to be followed by all Catholics, and that his spiritual power had the authority of secular power

45
Q

Kulturkampf

A
  • A campaign against Catholic institutions and power within Germany
  • Establishment of laws meant that states could inspect schools and ban the Jesuit Priestly Order from Germany
  • 1873 - Prussia May Laws - state control of the Catholic church
  • ‘Bread-basket’ law
46
Q

How many priests were jailed or exiled in 1879?

A

1800

47
Q

Church land worth how much had been seized in 1879?

A

16 million reichmarks

48
Q

Following the Kulturkampf, what happened to the Catholic Party’s votes?

A

1871 - 18.6%
1874 - 27.9%
1878 - largest party in the Reichstag

49
Q

Why did the Kulturkampf end?

A
  • No longer politically useful
  • Bismarck had to work with the largest party in the Reichstag - the Centre party - to push through protectionist policies in the late 1870s
  • Pope Pius IX died in 1878 and was replaced by Leo XIII. He was willing to talk with the German government for a compromise
  • Prussian conservatives and they royal family opposed it
  • Bismarck wanted to gain support of the Junkers and the Kaiser, who believed hat religion was important
50
Q

Limitations to Germany’s unity

A
  • No flag
  • No national anthem
  • Sedantag celebrated the battle of Sedan, however many southern states hadn’t had a large role, so it was opposed. Some politicians viewed it as a national holiday to celebrate Prussian militarism
51
Q

Focus on German nationalism

A
  1. Reichdeutsche identity
  2. Nationalism made a subject in education establishments
  3. Pupils were encouraged to see 1871 as a fulfilment of historical destiny that led to German unification
  4. School curriculum focused on instilling the values of loyalty to the Kaiser
  5. Student textbooks proclaimed the glory of the Kaiser
  6. Schools taught the German language
  7. Strong conscious effort to create a homogenous nation
  8. Policy of cultural nationalism towards minority groups (‘Germanising’)
  9. Poles and Jews were expelled from Germany in the late 1870s, military and education were used to enforce a German identity on ethnic minority areas
52
Q

How did Bismarck persuade the government that socialism was a threat to the German nation?

A

1878 - 2 assassination attempts on Wilhelm I (the perpetrators had no connection to socialism or the SADP)

53
Q

How many votes and seats did the National Liberals lose in 1878?

A

130,000 votes and 29 seats

54
Q

How many votes did the SADP lose in 1878?

A

Votes fell from 493,000 to 312,000

55
Q

How did Bismarck legally enforce anti-socialism?

A

He passed legislation called ‘the Law for Combating the Criminal Aims of Social Democracy’ in October 1878 - this prohibited socialist meetings and gave the plice power to randomly search, arrest and exile socialist politicians

56
Q

How many socialists were imprisoned between 1878-90?

A

1500

57
Q

How many votes and seats did the (newly formed) SPD have by 1890?

A

1 million votes and 35 seats in the Reichstag

58
Q

War in Sight Crisis

A
  1. France had recovered by 1875, and its Republican government had been replaced by an aggressive royalist one. Bismarck was concerned that the newly assertive France might encourage catholic opposition in Germany (France had done nothing the stop the French catholic bishops from attacking the Kulturkampf, etc.)
  2. Concerns over the French Army Organisational Law (1873), which increased the number of French infantry battalions from 3 to 4. There were an estimate of 800,000 trained men (increased by 80,000).
  3. Challenge to France - 5th April 1875, a newspaper (Kölnische Zeitung) published an article which painted a fearful picture of catholic conspiracy which claimed France and Austria were uniting against Germany. An article followed on the 9th of April (Berliner Post) asking if war was in sight
  4. The articles caused alarm across Germany and Europe. Diplomatic actions followed, considering a preventative war against France
  5. Tsar Alexander II visited Germany, with the support of Queen Victoria, for private talks with the Kaiser. Pressure from Britain and Russia forced Bismarck to back down, however he was furious at Gorchakov (Russian chancellor) who believed that the interference from Britain and Russia had undermined his policy against France

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