part 1: kaiser wilhelm & ruling difficulties Flashcards
what was the role of the kaiser?
-inherits position and rules like a king for life
-personal control of army and foreign policy
-appoints and dismisses chancellor
-can dissolve Reichstag
-has the most power
when did the kaiser rule?
1888-1918
what did the kaiser want for germany?
-to show the world how mighty germany had become and how he didn’t want to share his power
-believed in militarism and wanted to increase germany’s military power
-wanted to have an empire like britain and france
-believed in traditional class system
-maintain powerful army
what was weltpolitik?
world policy-kaiser wanted germany to be a world power
what laws did kaiser wilhelm pass and when?
-navy laws from 1898 to 1912
what was the strongest german state?
prussia
why did the states unify?
rid the threat of invasion from surrounding big countries, become more powerful
how was the kaiser related to the british royal family?
queen victoria’s grandson
industrialisation
building up germany’s industry to make it as great as britain
what happened in 1913 linked to industry?
germany was producing more iron and steel and as much coal as britain
wilhelm’s personality
-energetic, strong, outgoing
-charming, kind
-impatient. rude
-sack ministers if they didn’t do what he wanted
why was militarism so important to the kaiser?
he spent most of his youth in the army
role of bundesrat
-members are representatives from each 25 states in the German Empire
-its consent is needed for all legislation, but it can be overruled by the Kaiser
role of old reichstag
-members elected by the public every 3 years
-members pass or reject legislation put forward by the Bundesrat, couldn’t suggest own laws
role of chancellor
-runs government and proposes new legislation
-doesn’t support of Reichstag or Bundesrat’s support to stay in power as could be dismissed by kaiser
what was the kaiser’s foreign policy and why did he adopt it?
-‘a place in the sun’
-distract attention from the socialist and increase support for monarchy and military
why did he introduce naval laws?
to build up the size of his navy and to compete with britain