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German Nationalism > Political > Flashcards

Political Flashcards

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1
Q

What was Germany like politically in 1789?

A
  • Some 22 million Germans divided into 314 states who each had autonomy
  • The Holy Roman Empire did have an Imperial Diet but conflicting interests meant states rarely achieved a unified position
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2
Q

What was the political impact of the Confederation of the Rhine (1806)?

A
  • Bavaria, Württemberg and other southern states were formed into the Confederation of the Rhine, a third German power to offset Prussia and Austria
  • The total number of states was reduced to 39
  • Holy Roman Empire formally dissolved
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3
Q

How did Germany emulate France politically after 1806?

A

In many German states:

  • The Napoleonic Code was introduced which ensured equality before the law
  • Middle-class involvement in government increased
  • Church lands were secularised
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4
Q

What was Germany’s political situation like in 1815?

A
  • The German Confederation was set up in 1815 with 38 states (39 in 1817)
  • Within the states, rulers and princes had their own different ideas about how their states should be run, some even allowing certain liberal forms of government
  • The boundaries of the Confederation were modelled on those of the Holy Roman Empire
  • The need for a general assembly for any ‘fundamental change’ made the possibility for radical reform virtually nil
  • Overall, the structure did not encourage unity
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5
Q

What was Metternich’s political attitude?

A
  • He was the chief architect of the German Confederation
  • His sole intention was to maintain Austria’s domination and prevent unity
  • He intended to do this by repressing ‘threatening’ ideologies such as nationalism and liberalism as well as co-operating with Prussia and the German Princes
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6
Q

What were the Carlsbad Decrees?

A
  • Following both the Wartburg Festival (1817) and the murder of Kotzebue (1818), Metternich called a meeting of representatives from several states in Carlsbad in 1819
  • Here, he persuaded them to draw up a series of decrees, counter-measures for any form of revolutionary activity
  • They forbade:political meetings and student associations in universities without permission
  • They ordered: a strict censorship on the press and close observation and inspection on university teaching
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7
Q

What were the Six Articles?

A
  • This followed the Hambach festival in 1832 where Metternich wanted to reinforce the Carlsbad Decrees with the Six Articles
  • The Six Articles limited the rights of the Diets in constitutional states and stipulated that federal law would supersede the laws of these individual states
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8
Q

What was the Rhine Crisis?

A
  • In 1840, France tried to have the Rhine reinstated as France’s border in the east, at a loss of some 32.000 km² of German territory
  • This built up xenophobia against the French and sparked elements of nationalism in resisting them
  • In the end, the Rhine remained in Prussia’s control
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9
Q

Why did Metternich flee?

A

-Metternich fled in 1848 with the host of revolutions that left 300 rioters killed by troops

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10
Q

What were the political consequences of the 1848 revolutions?

A
  • King Frederick announced that he was in favour of liberty and a united Germany
  • Prussia at first followed instruction to drive the Danes out of the duchies but then changed her mind and made an armistice with Denmark
  • By this time King Frederick William IV had decided against a united Germany
  • It was proving impossible to agree on what would be incorporated into a united Germany
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11
Q

How did the Frankfurt Parliament come about?

A
  • In 1848 an assembly of states called the ‘Vorparlament’ was formed and after 5 days, agreed on how those who would draw up the constitution for a united Germany would be elected
  • The parliament would: meet in Frankfurt, represent every 50,000 inhabitants with each member and be elected by male citizens who were ‘of age’ and ‘economically independent’
  • Elections were carried out in all 39 states and approximately 75-90 per cent of men could vote (dependent on their area)
  • The elections, however, were indirect and civilians voted for electors who then went on to chose representatives
  • Of the 596 members ‘elected’, the majority were middle class with few landowners and craftsmen and one peasant
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12
Q

What did the Frankfurt Parliament release whilst struggling to form a constitution?

A

-They released the Fifty Articles of the fundamental rights of German citizens (e.g- freedom of worship, the press)

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13
Q

What were the weaknesses of the Frankfurt Parliament?

A
  • It was quickly decided that any constitution would be sovereign and whilst state parliaments could make laws, they’d need to coincide with the constitution
  • The existing boundaries of the confederation didn’t conform to any logical definition of Germany, therefore, the parliament was divided between wanting a ‘Grossdeutchland’ or a ‘Kleindeutchland’, one that included Austria or not
  • The Frankfurt parliament was unable to collect taxation and had no army to raise
  • Many workers lost faith in the parliament due to their Industrial code
  • The parliament was divided between conservatives, liberals and radicals so it became challenging to agree
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14
Q

Why did the Frankfurt parliament fail?

A
  • In March 1949, a constitution was finally agreed
  • However, when Fredrick William was ‘elected’ emperor, he realised that he didn’t want Prussia under parliament’s control
  • Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover and Prussia all rejected the constitution
  • The parliament was driven out of Frankfurt and in June forcibly dispersed
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15
Q

What did Fredrick Wilhelm IV do in an attempt to unite Germany after the Frankfurt Parliament and 1848 revolutions?

A
  • King Frederick William was still very interested in the idea of a united Germany
  • He took up a scheme for a federation of states in which the army and foreign policy would be controlled by Prussia
  • The first ‘Parliament’ met in Erfurt in 1850 but only a few small states joined Prussia as they were suspicious or feared Austria’s likely reaction
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16
Q

What was the significance of Olmutz (1850)?

A
  • Schwarzenberg, the powerful new chancellor of Austria, met with Prussia at Olmutz where it was decided that Prussia should abolish their union
  • This was humiliating for Prussia
  • It proved there was no real prospect for German unification whilst Austria did not want it
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17
Q

What were the political implications of the Army Bill?

A
  • The liberal majority in the Prussian Parliament feared that the army would be used upon its own citizens as in 1848-9 and believed that parliament should have financial control over army expenditure
  • When the army bill would not be accepted in full in 1860-1, William dissolved the parliament and replaced his liberal ministers with conservatives
  • In 1862, parliament refused the bill again and so on the 22nd of September, William appointed Bismarck as chief minister, his appointment was seen as a deliberate affront to the liberals as he was seen as a ‘bigoted reactionary’
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18
Q

What was the treaty of Prague?

A
  • In 1866, an armistice was signed between Austria and Prussia following the Austro-Prussian War
  • Prussia annexed a great deal of territory including Schleswig and Holstein
  • All other states north of the river Main were formed into the North German Confederation
  • Also in 1866, the north and south signed a secret treaty ensuring that the south would support the north militarily
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19
Q

What were the political implications of the Franco-Prussian War?

A
  • Firstly, in initiating the war, Bismarck took advantage of the Hohenzollern Candidature and urged Leopold to take the Spanish throne and when he stepped down and France asked William not to renew the candidature, Bismark edited William’s reply to sound like a humiliating snub
  • When France surrendered in January 1871, the war had shown the southern states that they couldn’t afford to stay out of such a powerful state and Bismarck allowed them to join with the North German Confederation
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20
Q

What were the political implications of the new German Constitution of 1871?

A
  • The Emperor would always be Prussian, could dismiss chancellors at will and could dissolve the Reichstag
  • All males over 21 given the vote
  • Prussia would always dominate given her size, power and dependence on her economy
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21
Q

What were the laws/measures enforced by Bismarck during the Kulturkampf (early 1870s)?

A

1872-Catholic schools brought into direct supervision of the state
1872-Reichstag forbade the Jesuit order
1874-Obligatory civil marriage introduced
1875-Subsidies were suspended when clergy resisted the new legislation
1875-All orders (except nursing orders) were dissolved

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22
Q

What was the political impact of the Kulturkampf?

A
  • Only 30 of the 10,000 Catholic Priests submitted to the new legislation
  • It only strengthened the Catholics and the Centre Party gained more support than Bismarck had anticipated
  • The Zentrum had won 91 seats by 1874 from 58 in 1871
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23
Q

Why did Bismarck initiate the Kulturkampf?

A

-He saw Centre politicians as encouraging disobedience when state policies conflicted with those of the Church

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24
Q

What were the political factors of the 1879 Tariff Act?

A
  • Although Bismarck worked with the National Liberals in the Kulturkampf, he wasn’t particularly friendly with them and in 1878, they had lost some 30 seats
  • In pursuing his protectionist case, popular with conservatives, he saw a way to break from the liberals and broaden his political support
  • With the passing of the Act in 1879, Bismarck had now firmly committed himself to the conservative camp
25
Q

Why did Bismarck see socialists as the threat?

A
  • He saw them as ‘dangerous revolutionaries’

- Their influence was also increasing when in 1877, the SPD won 50,000 votes and 12 seats

26
Q

What did Bismarck do to begin opposing socialism?

A
  • After Bismarck’s bill to prevent socialist propaganda failed in 1876, an attempted assassination on William I in 1878 gave him an opportunity when Bismarck tied it to part of a ‘red conspiracy’
  • When a week later there was another attempt on William I’s life, Bismarck blamed the National Liberals for not passing the anti-Socialist bill that could have ‘protected’ him
  • The electorate blamed the SPD and the National Liberals and they lost votes
27
Q

What bills/measures were enforced by Bismarck to inhibit Socialism?

A

1878- Anti-Socialist bill passed ( no socialist publications, meetings or organisations such as trade unions)
1878-1890- Some 1500 socialists imprisoned and a great deal emigrated

28
Q

What was the political impact of Bismarck’s opposition to Socialism?

A
  • Anti-Socialist law served to rally the faithful socialists and fortify them in their beliefs and SPD members did not stop standing for election or speaking freely in the Reichstag
  • After the dip in 1878, the SPD grew their support and had over 1 million voters by 1890
29
Q

What was State Socialism?

A
  • Bismarck not only used repression in his efforts to destroy Socialism , but introduced various welfare measures designed to assist workers
  • A devout Christian, Bismarck was conscious of a moral obligation to help those in need
  • In 1883, Bismarck introduced the Sickness Insurance Act
  • In 1889, Bismarck introduced the Old Age and Disability Act
  • This was paid for by workers, employers and the State
30
Q

What were the impacts of State Socialism?

A
  • Most workers though it was a ‘sham’ as the government still opposed the formation of trade unions
  • Also Bismarck did not grant unemployment insurance
  • Nonetheless, Bismarck’s measures laid the foundations of the welfare state in Germany
31
Q

What were Bismarck’s measures against national minorities?

A
  • Bismarck outlawed the Polish language in education and law courts
  • Alsace-Lorraine was not grated full autonomy
  • Bismarck did not solely rely on repression and allowed French people who disliked German rule to leave and over 400,000 had done by 1914
32
Q

What was the Dreikaiserbund?

A

-In 1873 this vague agreement stressed the need to co-operate against forces hostile to the monarchy between Austria-Hungary, Russia and Germany

33
Q

What were the consequences of Russia attacking Turkey in 1877?

A
  • Austria-Hungary had agreed to step aside if Russia attacked Turkey if Russia didn’t set up a large Slav state in the Balkans
  • Bismarck felt that this would keep Russia occupied and weaken her
  • Russia did surprisingly well in the war
34
Q

What was the treaty of San Stefano (1878)?

A
  • After doing well in the war against Turkey, Russia imposed the Treaty of San Stefano
  • Bulgaria was to become independent from Turkey and Russia would likely dominate it
  • Austria-Hungary was outraged by this and asked for the treaty to be overturned
  • This spurred Bismarck to hold the Congress of Berlin
35
Q

What was the Congress of Berlin (1878)?

A
  • Bismarck held the Congress of Berlin to maintain peace whilst being the host also brought Germany prestige
  • Bismarck’s main aim was to have Austria-Hungary and Russia on good terms
  • The new Bulgaria was ultimately reduced in size and not fully independent leaving Russia feeling robbed blaming Austria, Britain and Bismarck
36
Q

What was the Dual Alliance (1879)?

A
  • As protection against Russia, Bismarck formed a secret alliance with Austria-Hungary
  • Each would support the other if attacked by Russia
  • This was another manoeuvre to protect Germany in temporary difficulty
37
Q

What was the Dreikaiser (1881)?

A

-A treaty between Austria-Hungary, Germany and Russia to agree there’d be no change in the Balkans without mutual agreement

38
Q

What was the Triple Alliance (1882)?

A

-Bismarck expanded the ‘Dual Alliance’ to include Italy

39
Q

What was the Reinsurance Treaty (1887)?

A
  • This was a treaty with Russia under which Russia could seize the straits of Constantinople if she wished to prevent warships of other countries passing through the Black sea
  • This was contrary to a provision of the Dual Alliance (1879) and so had to be done in secret
  • Bismarck then whipped up anti-Russian feeling in Germany
40
Q

Why did Bismarck change his opinion on colonies?

A
  • He distrusted England under Gladstone and embarked upon a policy of expansion in 1884
  • In 1882 the German Colonial Union was founded, a pressure group supporting colonies
  • By picking quarrels with Britain over colonies, Germany was aligning on France’s side
  • Colonialism also appeared to Bismarck as a issue that would weaken liberal support in the 1884 elections
41
Q

What were the differences between Bismarck and Wilhelm II?

A
  • A great gulf separated the two, least of all age, Bismarck being 73 and Wilhelm being 29 in 1888
  • Wilhelm wanted to win over the working class with a modest extension of the welfare system (end to child labour, Sunday working) whereas Bismarck favoured further repression and wanted to make the anti-Socialist law permanent in 1889
42
Q

What showed that Bismarck’s political power was crumbling in 1890?

A
  • The Reichstag rejected Bismarck’s entire anti-socialist bill in January 1890
  • In February 1890, with new elections underway, Wilhelm issued a proclamation proposing new social legislation with Bismarck’s countersignature absent
  • The elections were a disaster for Bismarck with his Conservative and National Liberal allies losing 85 seats and the Socialists winning 24
43
Q

What did Bismarck do after the 1890 elections to try and recover his position?

A

-Bismarck proposed a large increase in the arm and a new, extremely repressive anti-Socialist law which Wilhelm refused to support, causing their relationship to deteriorate further

44
Q

Why was Bismarck forced to resign?

A
  • In March 1890, Wilhelm and Bismarck quarrelled over the rights of ministers to advise the monarch and Bismarck found an 1852 order to prove his view
  • When Wilhelm angered Bismarck in asking for the order to be withdrawn, Bismarck was given an ultimatum: either resign or be removed
45
Q

When was Bismarck dismissed?

A

-Bismarck was dismissed by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1890

46
Q

What was the Wilhelm II’s character like?

A
  • Tended to form ideas quickly without much thought

- He believed in the Divine Right of Kings

47
Q

What was Caprivi’s ‘new course’?

A
  • Caprivi became chancellor in 1890
  • He went out of his way to grant concessions to Poles and Socialists to take a conciliatory approach to previously ‘hostile’ forces
  • He let anti-Socialist law lapse and reintroduced the Polish language into education
  • He prohibited work for children under 13 and set up courts or industrial disputes
  • He also aimed to reform the 1879 Tariff Bill
48
Q

What was the Agrarian League?

A
  • The Agrarian league were formed in 1883 and were against Tariff reforms
  • It son had 300,000 members and became an effective pressure group with a virulent anti-Caprivi campaign
49
Q

What was the new Army Bill?

A
  • Caprivi wanted to reform the 1860 Army Bill but the Reichstag opposed him and so he dissolved the Reichstag
  • In 1893, the new Reichstag passed the Army Bill
50
Q

What did Wilhelm II fail to do in 1890?

A
  • Wilhelm failed to renew the Reinsurance Treaty with Russia formed in 1887
  • By 1893, he was aiming to seek a new treaty with Russia but was too late
51
Q

What happened in 1894?

A

Russia completes an agreement with France

52
Q

What was Wilhelm II’s foreign policy in 1896-7

A
  • After Britain aimed to raid the Republic of Transvaal, Wilhelm sent a congratulatory message to their president in 1896, which angered Britain as Germany was getting involved in affairs where she didn’t belong
  • In 1897, Bulow makes his ‘place under the sun’ speech and Germany acquires Kaiochow as a base on the coast of China
53
Q

What was the Moroccan Crisis?

A
  • In 1905, Germany humiliated France by reducing her influence in Morocco
  • In 1906, a international conference was held to deal with the Moroccan question, France is backed by Britain, Britain is convinced that Germany is a threat
54
Q

What happened in 1904 and 1907?

A

1904- Britain makes ‘Entente Cordiale’ with France

1907- Britain makes an ‘Entente’ with Russia

55
Q

Who was the largest party in the Reichstag in 1912?

A

-Trade Unions’ power had grown and the SPD becomes the majority in the Reichstag

56
Q

What ultimately spurred WW1?

A
  • In 1914, heir to the Austrian throne, Ferdinand, was murdered by Serbian extremists
  • In August, Germany goes to war
57
Q

What was the state of Germany during WW1?

A
  • In 1914, Germany had a established a ‘War Raw Materials’ department that directed labour, controlled the railways and introduced rationing
  • Germany was not self sufficient and lacked raw materials
58
Q

What were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles (1919)?

A
  • Germany to pay £6,600 million in reparations
  • No German Troops allowed in the Rhineland
  • Army reduced to 100,000 men
  • No navy or air force
  • Germany lost all her colonies
  • Germany to accept full war guilt

German Nationalism (6 decks)

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