Political and Governmental Change Flashcards
When was the Yalta Conference?
February 1945
What was decided at the Yalta Conference?
Germany would be divided into 4 zones, controlled by Britain, USA, France and the USSR.
An Allied control council would represent all four powers
When was the Potsdam Conference?
June 1945
What was decided at the Potsdam Conference?
Denazification
Demilitarisation
Deindustrialisation
Democratisation
When was trizonia created?
June 1948
USA, Britain and France joined their zones
What did Stalin do in reaction to the creation of Trizonia?
Stalin created the Berlin Blockade on 24th June 1948, restricting supplies from coming into West Berlin
How did the allies respond to the Berlin Blockade?
They created the Berlin Airlift, flying in supplies
When did trizonia become the FRG?
23rd may 1949
Who were the CDU/CSU?
They were two church based groups
When were the CDU/CSU set up?
1945
What were the beliefs of the CDU/CSU?
the idea was to have the christian outlook and social support for the poorest
When were the SPD reformed?
15th June 1945
Who were the SPD?
They were a centre - left wing group around in the Weimar Republic however heir policies were now more radical than the KPD
What were the beliefs of the SPD?
They wanted nationalisation of banks, industries and land as well as significant welfare reforms
When were the KPD reformed?
11th June 1945
What was the KPD’s key message?
controlling extremism
What were the beliefs of the KPD?
They wanted “German Socialism” not capitalism, land reforms and a new education system
When were the FDP created?
1947
Who were the FDP and what did the want?
they were a number of small liberal groups and they pursued centrist policies
What did the basic law set out?
Equal rights Free speech Free to form unions No censorship All citizens over 18 can vote Free state education
How many seats was the Bundestag made up of?
598
What was the voting structure like in the Basic Law
299 seats came from first past the post
299 seats came from proportional representation (parties had to achieve 5%)
What was the chancellor’s position in the Basic Law?
Leader of the largest party
more important than the president
can be removed by vote of no confidence if there is an alternative party ready to take over
What year did the CDU achieve majority in the elections?
What percent did they achieve?
1957
50.3%
What was the collective bargaining law on industrial relations?
Law meaning unions could make negotiations on behalf of members and take action if needed
What year was the collective bargaining law on industrial relations introduced?
1949
What were the results of collective bargaining law on industrial relations?
it maintained labour relations
meant there were fewer strikes
aided political stability
What was the Construction Law ?
It provided grants to Lander and cities to encourage large scale building projects and reduce the need for temporary accomodation
What year was the Construction Law introduced?
1950
what were the results of the Construction Law?
By 1957 4 million new homes were built
Helped refugees integrate into the FRG
What was the Equalisation of Burdens?
It meant compensation was offered to victims of war time bombing campaigns
What year was the Equalisation of Burdens introduced?
1952
What were the results of the Equalisation of Burdens?
This saw the most significant redistribution of income in German history
By 1983 DM126 billion had been raised
What was the Works Consultation Law?
It encouraged the establishment of worker consultative councils in any enterprise where 20 or more were employed
What year was the Works Consultation Law introduced?
1952
What were the results of the Works Consultation Law?
It reduced tension between employers and employees
What was the Pensions Act?
It meant those that were working would make contributions through their taxes towards the pensions of those who were retired
What year was the Pensions Act introduced?
1957
What were the results of the Pensions Act?
This was NOT successful
it was quite expensive and put the social welfare budget under considerable pressure
When was the FRG admitted to NATO?
May 1955
What conditions did the FRG have to agree to to be in NATO?
renounce the adoption of nuclear weapons
limit the size of the army
army to remain under direct civilian control
What was the EEC?
European Economy Community
Why did Adenauer want the FRG to be in the EEC?
He saw the FRG’s role in a strong united Western Europe as important economically
Why was the re-emergence of the SPD a challenge to Adenauer?
They had changed their policies to embrace the CDU’s economic goals
They had increasing popularity in elections
What were the SPD’s percentages in the 1949 and 1957 elections?
1949 29.2%
1957 31.8%
What mistakes did Adenauer make?
He didn’t visit the Berlin Wall while it was being constructed
He attempted to defy the constitution by trying to become president while chancellor in 1959
Der Spiegel Affair
When was Brandt chancellor?
1969 - 1974
What were Brandt’s beliefs?
He offered a reformist agenda which would promote greater public participation, social reforms and democracy
What was Brandt’s key policy?
Ostpolitik
What difficulties did Brandt face?
weakening economic conditions and a resurgence of political extremism
When was Schmidt chancellor?
1974 - 1982
What were Schmidt’s beliefs?
He supported ostpolitik and showed the ability to deal with threats like terrorism from the RAF
What difficulties did schmidt face?
he suffered from policies aimed at reducing inflation and had growing tensions with the FDP
When was Kohl chancellor?
1982 - 1998
What were Kohl’s beliefs?
He supported the social market economy
He initially didn’t support ostpolitik but then saw the popularity and so did
What difficulties did Kohl face?
he faced rising unemployment and social deprivation
How were the East / West relations a threat?
people resisting the government were spied upon by the Stasi and those attempting to cross the border would be shot
in 1973 a nuclear shelter was built to house 27,000 people in West Berlin
How was the East / West relations a limited threat?
Ostpolitik tried to build better relations between the FRG and GDR
Treaty of 1973 ws when the two countries acknowledged each others right to exist
Brandt knelt before a memorial to the victims of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising showing an act of reconciliation
How were opposition from smaller parties and pressure groups a threat?
2.7 million people signed a petition against the deployment of missiles (Krefield Appeal)
Anti nuclear protests attracted over 250,00 people in 1981
How were opposition from smaller parties and pressure groups a limited threat?
DKP never won more than 50,000 votes - insignificant
NPD couldn’t get into the national government and failed to win 5% of the votes
How were economic problems a threat?
unemployment at 9% in mid 1980s
over 4% of German households lived in poverty
oil crises in 1973
How were economic problems a limited threat?
had good industrial relations
microelectronics industries grew show adaptability of economy
How were scandals and corruption a threat?
Flick affair forced FDP minister to resign over tax scandals shows arties are untrustworthy
Barschel - Engholm affair show instability as the SPD and CDU leaders were in a scandal despite being in a coalition
How were scandals and corruption a limited threat?
the affairs were short lived
