government and opposition the kaiser and his chancellors

Question 1

what was kaiser wilhelm ii personality

Answer 1

wilhelm wanted to control details of government but could never bring himself to take time over state papers

only ever at ease around military personal

sensitive to criticism and could often get angry

he was childish

he was born with a withered arm and it is thought his strict upbringing made him mentally disturbed

Question 2

how did wilhelm 1 differ from wilhelm 2

Answer 2

unlike wilhelm 1 wilhelm 2 believed there was only one man ruling over the Reichstag and that should be him.
he didn’t like Bismarck’s freedom

Question 3

who was wilhelms first chancellor after firing bismarck and what years were he in power

Answer 3

caprivi
1890-1894

Question 4

why was caprivi chosen as chancellor and what did he do

Answer 4

he was chosen because of his moderate conciliatory approach to socialism. he was a military general

he:
ended anti socialist laws
gave more influence over policy making for ministers
reduced tariffs
recognised trade unions, reduced working hours and had progressive income tax

Question 5

which social groups supported caprivi

Answer 5

working class , socialists , industrialists , zentum and liberals

Question 6

who opposed caprivi

Answer 6

prussian aristocrats and landowners

Question 7

what was the schlieffen plan and when was it made

Answer 7

1892
military strategy to use incase of a two front war
to be effective the german reserves had to be expanded

Question 8

what changes to the military did caprivi make in 1893

Answer 8

reduced military service from three years to two
allowed Reichstag to discuss military budget every 5 years

in return
reichstag passed a bill to increase the army by 84,000 men

Question 9

who was kaiser wilhelm 2 second chancellor and when did he rule

Answer 9

hohenlohe schillinsfurst
1894-1900

Question 10

why was hohenlohe schillinsfurst chosen to be chancellor

Answer 10

because he posed no political threat
he was a figurehead chancellor

Question 11

what did hohenlohe schillinsfurst do as chancellor

Answer 11

he introduced the 1894 subversion bill and the 1899 anti unionist bill to curb socialist subversion but both were thrown out by the Reichstag because conservative representation had fallen

Question 12

what is weltpolitik

Answer 12

world politics and German expansion

Question 13

what was sammlungspolitik and what did it lead to

Answer 13

It means bringing together policy and its promoters aimed to unite the political parties and groups in favour of Weltpolitik

it lead to the alliance of steel and rye which supported tarifs

Question 14

what were the right wing pressure groups which emerged from the 1890s

Answer 14

pan german league - middle class - anti semitic- wants colonies and to suppress socialism / democracy

navy league - promote naval expansion - grow colonies

agrarian league - junkers and tenant farmers- wants tarifs and to protect agricultural interests

imperial league against social democracy - industry support - curb socialism - increases conservatism

industrialists league - high tarifs - protect manufacturing

army league - expand Germany and economy that supports it

Question 15

who was the Kaisers third chancellor and when

Answer 15

bulow
1900-1909

Question 16

why was bulow chosen as chancellor

Answer 16

he was groomed by the inner circle to be chancellor
he flattered the kaiser and was the chancellor he trusted

Question 17

what did bulow do as chancellor

Answer 17

abandon aggressively anti socialist areas of sammlungspolitik but still win support of patriotists

1902 restored tariffs on agriculture and some industrial products

accident health insurance

payment of reichstag deputies in 1906

more anti semitic and anti pole actions

Question 18

what coalition happened in 1907

Answer 18

the bulow bloc
between the conservative members of the agrarian league and liberals in order to prevent reliance on zentrum party

Question 19

who was the kaisers fourth chancellor and when

Answer 19

bethmann hollweg
1909 - 1917

Question 20

why was bethmann hollweg chosen as chancellor

Answer 20

he was happy to allow the Kaiser to take personal control over military and foreign affairs

Question 21

what did bethmann hollweg do as chancellor

Answer 21

he failed to push the patriotism so SPD became the biggest party and he was unable to win majorities for his policies
1913 army increase
vote of no confidence in 1913

Question 22

autocracy vs democracy

Answer 22

kaiser appointing and dismissing chancellors was constitutional but broke wilhelm 1 tradition

personal involvement overstepped the constitutional boundary especially during bulows reign

if the reichstag wanted a particular law then they felt ministers should respond - which goes against the constitution

Question 23

evidence of the kaiser being autocratic

Answer 23

daily telegraph interview :
1908 kaiser suggested that germans were anti british
reichstag demanded kaiser be curbed but instead bulow quit and the kaiser grew more aloof

zabern affair:
1913 kaiser declared support for excessive military action in zaben affair , this gave the impression that the military could do what they want

Question 24

how did the SDP change over time

Answer 24

they became increasingly more moderate and didn’t take the opportunity to challenge the gov when things went wrong
SPD became the biggest socialist party in europe in 1914

Question 25

how many memebers did the trade unions have in 1913

Answer 25

2.5 million

Question 26

how did the centre parties change over time

Answer 26

national liberals divisions became more pronounced

Question 27

how did the right wing change over time

Answer 27

supported the kaiser and backed by the liberals
growing number of right wing pressure groups which had direct impact on policy making