Germany Under The Kaiser

Question 1

What does kaiser mean?

Answer 1

Emperor

Question 2

Kaiser Wilhelm the second was an autocratic ruler, what does that mean?

Answer 2

That he did not share power?

Question 3

What was the bundersrat?

Answer 3

A meeting of the German upper class, that would decide upon laws. Has the power to overrule the reichstag.

Question 4

What was the reichstag?

Answer 4

The parliament in which the working class could get their say, however it had no real power compared to the bundersrat.

Question 5

What were kaiser wilhelm the seconds aims?

Answer 5

To have a strong military and empire.

Question 6

What was the role of the chancellor during the kaisers reign?

Answer 6

To manage the government and authority over the bundersrat.

Question 7

What was the biggest threat to the kaiser?

Answer 7

The SPD, social, political democratic union.

Question 8

What were the aims of the SPD?

Answer 8

To get rid of the kaiser and establish a democracy.

Question 9

Why was the kaiser threatened by the SPD?

Answer 9

If they uprose they would take away his autocratic rule over Germany.

Question 10

How did popularity of the SPD change from 1907 - 1912?

Answer 10

Their popularity rose to 3 million people, meaning they now proposed a serious threat to the kaiser.

Question 11

What was weltpolitik?

Answer 11

The belief the kaiser had to establish Germany as a global power

Question 12

What did the navy laws intent to do?

Answer 12

To create a navy of a similar power to Great Britain’s, so establish themselves as a legitimate threat.

Question 13

In which areas did German industry rival Britain and the USA?

Answer 13

Coal and steel

Question 14

What did the social law of 1891 change?

Answer 14

Banned Sunday working and child labour, an attempt by the chancellor to get people on the kaisers side.

Question 15

What percentage of Germany voters voted for SPD by 1914

Answer 15

1/3

Question 16

Despite being the largest party in the reichstag, why did the SPD still lack power?

Answer 16

Because the reichstag had little power, and the kaiser still had total rule over Germany.

Question 17

When peace conditions were being discussed, what was a condition the allies made?

Answer 17

That the kaiser be forced to abdicate, however he refused.

Question 18

What happened on the 25th October 1918?

Answer 18

Naval commanders at Kiel decided to send out ships against the British navy, in a suicidal bid for glory. The sailors mutinied as a result.

Question 19

What was happening in Germany between the 26th October - 5th November?

Answer 19

The kaiser was seen doing nothing about the strikes, igniting further strikes, mutinies and protests all over rage country, form workers and soldiers alike.

Question 20

What was happening on the 6th November 1918?

Answer 20

The people of Germany had now taken many cities, their main aim to end the war. Politicians saw this as similar to the revolution taking place in Russia only a year prior.

The SPD was the leading party, and in theory were socialists, his se in reality they were conservative and cautious. Their leader, Friedrich Ebert wanted to save the Kaiser, but knew that if he did then further left wing groups would take over.

Question 21

What did the SPD do on the 7th of November?

Answer 21

They sent an ultimatum to the kaiser, saying unless he abdicated they would join the revolution.

Question 22

What happened on the 9th November 1918?

Answer 22

There was general strike in Berlin, and the SPD feared the takeover of a further left wing group. Therefor one of Eberts colleagues announced the abdication of the kaiser and the formation of a new government, which would be run with coalition with other socialist parties.

Ebert declares himself chancellor of Germany.

Question 23

What did the kaiser do on the 10th of November 1918?

Answer 23

He fled in exile to Holland.

Question 24

What happened in the 11th November 1918?

Answer 24

The armistice is signed between the allies and Germany, and the war is over.