government and opposition the kaiser and his chancellors Flashcards
what was kaiser wilhelm ii personality
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
how did wilhelm 1 differ from wilhelm 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
who was wilhelms first chancellor after firing bismarck and what years were he in power
caprivi
1890-1894
why was caprivi chosen as chancellor and what did he do
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
which social groups supported caprivi
working class , socialists , industrialists , zentum and liberals
who opposed caprivi
prussian aristocrats and landowners
what was the schlieffen plan and when was it made
1892
military strategy to use incase of a two front war
to be effective the german reserves had to be expanded
what changes to the military did caprivi make in 1893
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
who was kaiser wilhelm 2 second chancellor and when did he rule
hohenlohe schillinsfurst
1894-1900
why was hohenlohe schillinsfurst chosen to be chancellor
because he posed no political threat
he was a figurehead chancellor
what did hohenlohe schillinsfurst do as chancellor
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
what is weltpolitik
world politics and German expansion
what was sammlungspolitik and what did it lead to
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
what were the right wing pressure groups which emerged from the 1890s
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
who was the Kaisers third chancellor and when
bulow
1900-1909
why was bulow chosen as chancellor
he was groomed by the inner circle to be chancellor
he flattered the kaiser and was the chancellor he trusted
what did bulow do as chancellor
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
what coalition happened in 1907
the bulow bloc
between the conservative members of the agrarian league and liberals in order to prevent reliance on zentrum party
who was the kaisers fourth chancellor and when
bethmann hollweg
1909 - 1917
why was bethmann hollweg chosen as chancellor
he was happy to allow the Kaiser to take personal control over military and foreign affairs
what did bethmann hollweg do as chancellor
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
autocracy vs democracy
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
evidence of the kaiser being autocratic
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
how did the SDP change over time
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
how many memebers did the trade unions have in 1913
2.5 million
how did the centre parties change over time
national liberals divisions became more pronounced
how did the right wing change over time
supported the kaiser and backed by the liberals
growing number of right wing pressure groups which had direct impact on policy making
