Growth Of Democracy - Key Dates Flashcards
Creation of Germany - Growth of Democracy
1870
Wilhelm II becomes Kaiser - Growth of Democracy
1888
Weimar Republic set up - Growth of Democracy
1919
Spartacist Revolt - Growth of Democracy
Early 1919
Kapp Putsch on Berlin - Growth of Democracy
March 1920
Invasion of the Ruhr by France and Belgium - Growth of Democracy
1923
Munich Putsch - Growth of Democracy
8th-9th November 1923
Armistice Signed - Growth of Democracy
11th November 1918
Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicates - Growth of Democracy
9th November 1918
The SPD deliver an ultimatum to the Kaiser to abdicate or they revolt - Growth of Democracy
7th November 1918
The Kaiser abdicates and Ebert becomes the new chancellor - Growth of Democracy
9th November 1918
Germany joins LoN - Growth of Democracy
1926
The Dawes plan is agreed to lend Germany 800 million gold marks - Growth of Democracy
1924
What did the Young Plan reduce reparations to? - Growth of Democracy
£1.8bn
From 1890 to 1913, how did the trade union membership increase? - Growth of Democracy
From 300,000 to 3,000,000
Before the war, what proportion of people voted for the SPD? - Growth of Democracy
1 in 3
What did Kaiser Wilhelm II pass between 1898 and 1912 and why? - Growth of Democracy
He passed 5 separate naval laws, instructing an increase in the size of Germany’s navy in order to challenge Britain’s navy
What is weltpolitik? - Growth of Democracy
WORLD POLICY
The Kaiser’s desire to create a strong world power and a German Empire
What problems did the Kaiser have? - Growth of Democracy
The rise of trade unions
Socialism
Money
International challenge
How did the rise of trade unions create a problem for the Kaiser? - Growth of Democracy
From 1890 to 1913, trade union membership grew from 300,000 to 3 million. Wanted to improve workers’ rights in contrast to the Kaiser’s undemocratic rule
How did socialism create problems for the Kaiser? - Growth of Democracy
The SPD had over 1/3 of the vote in elections
Contrasted the Kaiser’s dictator like rule, some radical socialists wanted to overthrow his rule
How did money create problems for the Kaiser? - Growth of Democracy
The Kaiser needed money to advance industry and his navy, which involved raising taxes. This made workers unhappy, and they then voted for the SPD
When did the Kiel Mutiny happen and what occurred? - Growth of Democracy
28th OCTOBER 1918 - The sailors in the Navy at Kiel refused to fight. This mutiny spread to other sections of the armed forces and workers supported them
How much state budget was spent on German war pensions by 1925? - Growth of Democracy
1/3 of budget
How was the president elected in Weimar? - Growth of Democracy
Elected by the people
What advantage did the Weimar regime have for German women? - Growth of Democracy
All men AND WOMEN over 20 could vote in elections
What problems did proportional representation have? - Growth of Democracy
Lots of small parties got small numbers of Reichstag seats as a percentage of votes signalled a percentage of seats. PARTIES STRUGGLED TO GET MAJORITIES, COALITIONS COMMON.
What problems did Article 48 have? - Growth of Democracy
A president could abuse their powers to become a dictator as it granted them ‘emergency’ powers if used. An emergency is not defined.
Who were the ‘November criminals’? - Growth of Democracy
The politicians who signed the Armistice in November 1918. They were seen as condemning Germany to economic crisis.
How did the Spartacist uprising of 1919 end? - Growth of Democracy
The government enlisted the help of Army Freikorps, who crushed the revolution and murdered Freida Luxembourg and Karl Leibnecht
How did the Kapp Putsch of 1920 end? - Growth of Democracy
Workers in Berlin called a general strike of all public services, which closed Berlin. The Putsch ground to a halt.
What 3 events created the year of crisis in 1923? - Growth of Democracy
French + Belgian invasion of the Ruhr
Hyperinflation
Munich Putsch
Why did French and Belgian troops invade the Ruhr? - Growth of Democracy
Germany declared that they could no longer pay reparations. Troops invaded the Ruhr, a rich industrial area, to control production and saw this as ‘payment’.
What strategy did the Weimar government employ in response to the Ruhr invasion? - Growth of Democracy
Passive resistance
Ruhr Germans went on strike, meaning industry stopped in opposition to the invasion
What problems did passive resistance have? - Growth of Democracy
It damaged the German economy, as the government still paid those who resisted. This led to the depreciation of value of the Mark
How did Germany attempt to solve the problem of a lack of money? - Growth of Democracy
They printed more money, meaning the value of the German currency decreased
Who was +vely and -vely affected by hyperinflation? - Growth of Democracy
+ : people who needed to repay debts or were short of money. People buying first houses
- : pensioners with fixed pensions, people with savings. Small businesses collapsed
How did Stresemann solve Hyperinflation? - Growth of Democracy
He introduced the Rentenmark, a new currency followed by the reichsmark. This controlled inflation. However, savings were lost
What did the Locarno treaties secure in terms of Germany? + when was it signed? - Growth of Democracy
SIGNED 1925, The pact agreed Germany’s borders with France+ Belgium, signed with Britain, France and Italy
How did the Weimar period aid German culture? - Growth of Democracy
The rise of Cabaret as a result of more liberal society.
The ‘Bauhaus’ movement in art + design
What was the Wandervogel movement? - Growth of Democracy
A movement of people wanting German society to return to simple country values in which people are traditional
What did the Locarno Treaties of 1925 agree? - Growth of Democracy
A pact signed with Britain, France and Italy guaranteed Post-WW1 borders, such as Germany’s borders with France + Belgium
What impact did the Locarno Treaties of 1925 have on the LoN? - Growth of Democracy
Permitted Germany to join the LoN in 1926
What did the Kellogg-Briand pact agree and when was it signed? - Growth of Democracy
Signed in 1928
62 countries agreed to not use war in order to solve issues and disagreements
Who was Gustav von Kahr? - Growth of Democracy
A politician who was ordered by Hitler to join his fight during the Munich Putsch of 1923
What were two weaknesses of the Weimar constitution?
- People were suspicious of deals between parties
- proportional representation; COALITIONS
What were two things about the Weimar government people liked?
- all men AND WOMEN over 20 could vote
- the president was elected by the people
