Government Flashcards
Why did Germany need a new Gov. in 1918?
Since 1888 - Kaiser was a strong leader
By Autumn 1918 - Ger. faced certain defeat, Germans were retreating and people in Ger. faced starvation
Allies would only make peace with Ger. if it became more democratic - meant getting rid of Kaiser & setting up new Gov.
Led to violent uprisings
Kaiser forced to flee to Netherlands
Ger. became a republic
Friedrich Ebert (Leader of the Social Democrats) became new democratically elected leader of Ger
Left wing beliefs
Workers should have power and rule country as a collection of workers’ councils
Should be equality with no different classes and no huge differences in wealth
Change is welcome
LW views should be spread throughout world
Anti-right-wing
Eg. Communist party
Right wing beliefs
Strong leaders should rule over the people
Should be major differences between people, classes and races
Own country should be strong and powerful, with a large empire
Change is not welcome
Anti-left-wing
Eg. Nazi party
Why did fewer people vote for communism or fascism?
As they were very extreme in their views
Power by force
What was communism?
FORCE people to live a certain way eg. taking their money
Wish for complete equality
Extreme socialists
What was fascism?
Wanted to go back to old ways - no immigrants
Often racist
Most fascists - extremely patriotic (nationalist
Extreme conservatives
Why did people vote for fascism and communism?
People were used to having one leader
Either would have dictators
Who was the president?
Elected every seven years
Controlled army, navy and air force
Stayed out of day-to-day running of country
In crisis, could use Article 48 (rule on his own without support of Reichstag)
Define constitution
A set of written rules about how a country should be organised and run
Who was the chancellor
Chosen by the president (usually from party with most votes)
Responsible for day-to-day running of the country
Must have support of at least half the MPs to introduce new laws
What was the Reichstag
Discussed/introduced laws
MPs elected every 4 years
Voting system called proportional representation
Need at least half of Reichstag on your side to pass any law
Parties joined as a coalition to gain power with a majority
Proportions in the first Reichstag elections in 1920
Communists - 4
Nationalist party - 71
Democratic party, Centre party, People’s party - 178 (not enough to form a majority)
Strengths of the Weimar constitution
Fair system - equal rights, men & women over 20 could vote
Very forward thinking - More democratic than other countries, ahead of Britain
MPs and Presidents - chosen by the people, democratically chosen
Weaknesses of the Weimar constitution
- Difficult to make decisions & new laws (1919-1933 no political parties won the majority of votes, too many parties)
- Law making very slow (many coalitions made)
- Completely changing the way the country was ruled (lots of disagreement, Article 48 could be misused, peoples’ opinions very different, no experience of democracy)
