Kaiser Reich Flashcards
What were the powers of the Kaiser
Appointed/dismissed chancellors at will
Could call/dissolve Reichstag
Commanded the army
Controlled foreign policy
Gave assent to laws
Decided policy
Had final constitutional say
Powers and responsibilities of government under kaiserreich
Was appointed and dismissed by chancellor
Decided outline of policy
Chancellor have assent to all laws
Powers and key points of Reichstag under kaiserreich
Deputies elected by males over 25
Deputies had right of free speech
Elections held every 3 years with indirect system
Gave consent to all laws
Could debate and question a law proposed by chancellor
Could not amend a law
Could not demand the dismissal of ministers
Powers and key info of the Bundesrat under kaiserreich
58 representatives from 25 state governments in proportion to size
Presided over chancellor
Could initate legislation
Decisions decided by majority vote
Proposals to alter constitution needed majority of 14
Had to approve all new laws
Could veto all legislation except budgets
Has to approve declarations of war
What was the general trend for the largest parties in Germany 1871-1890
Zentrum go from 61 to 106 seats and become largest party
National liberals collapse from 125 seats and largest party to 42
When did the Zentrum become the largest party
1881
How did SPD support change between 1871-1890
Went from 2 seats to 35
What was the kulturkampf and when did it occur
The kulturkampf was a conflict between the Catholic Church and Bismark between 1872 and 1878, mainly focussing on trying to reduce power of the church
What party supported free trade
National liberals
What was Germany’s trade gap like in 1900
There was a large trade gap in 1900 due to the need to import food and raw materials
How did Germany’s transport network change between 1890 and 1913
Increased by 50%
How did Germany’s urban population change between 1890 and 1914
40% to 60%
How much of the worlds Chemical dyes did Germany produce by 1914
75%
When was the tariff reform act
1902
What did the tariff reform act do
Moved Germany to an economic policy of protectionism
When was the Bulow Budget Crisis
1906
When was the Army Bill
1913
What did the army bill do
Increase peaceful strength of army by 20% in 1914
How was the army bill funded
An inheritance tax accepted
Special defence tax on value of property
When was the Tariff reform
1902
What did the tariff reform do and who did it benefit
Restored tariffs to pre 1892 levels
Demonstrated dominance of elite/middle class interests
Opposition helped SPD make political games
What was the 1906 budget crisis
Large budget defect it causes Bulow to raise indirect taxes and inheritance tax
Highlighted political divisions and achieved little
When was the Herero uprising
1904-05
What was the Herero uprising
Harsh German Colonial rule led to an uprising, crushed mercilessly by German colonial forces
Divided political opinion
When was the Dreadnaught introduced
1906
What was the impact of the dreadnought
New generation of naval warfare, forces new ships to be built to avoid being outgunned
When were the naval bills
1906,1907 and 1908
What was Wilhelms naval policy called
Flottenpolitik
When was the Hottentot election
1907
Why was the hottentot election called
Provoked by colonial events as ZP and SPD allied against increasing colonial budget
What was the result of the Hottentot election
SPD support collapsed from 81 to 43
ZP minority increased to 105
Led to the development of the Bulow Block
What was the Eulenberg scandal
Accusations of homosexual conduct at the heart of government
Similar to Oscar Wilde trial
Eulenberg dismissed
