Political and Governmental Change Flashcards

1
Q

When was the Yalta Conference?

A

February 1945

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2
Q

What was decided at the Yalta Conference?

A

Germany would be divided into 4 zones, controlled by Britain, USA, France and the USSR.
An Allied control council would represent all four powers

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3
Q

When was the Potsdam Conference?

A

June 1945

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4
Q

What was decided at the Potsdam Conference?

A

Denazification
Demilitarisation
Deindustrialisation
Democratisation

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5
Q

When was trizonia created?

A

June 1948

USA, Britain and France joined their zones

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6
Q

What did Stalin do in reaction to the creation of Trizonia?

A

Stalin created the Berlin Blockade on 24th June 1948, restricting supplies from coming into West Berlin

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7
Q

How did the allies respond to the Berlin Blockade?

A

They created the Berlin Airlift, flying in supplies

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8
Q

When did trizonia become the FRG?

A

23rd may 1949

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9
Q

Who were the CDU/CSU?

A

They were two church based groups

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10
Q

When were the CDU/CSU set up?

A

1945

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11
Q

What were the beliefs of the CDU/CSU?

A

the idea was to have the christian outlook and social support for the poorest

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12
Q

When were the SPD reformed?

A

15th June 1945

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13
Q

Who were the SPD?

A

They were a centre - left wing group around in the Weimar Republic however heir policies were now more radical than the KPD

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14
Q

What were the beliefs of the SPD?

A

They wanted nationalisation of banks, industries and land as well as significant welfare reforms

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15
Q

When were the KPD reformed?

A

11th June 1945

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16
Q

What was the KPD’s key message?

A

controlling extremism

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17
Q

What were the beliefs of the KPD?

A

They wanted “German Socialism” not capitalism, land reforms and a new education system

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18
Q

When were the FDP created?

A

1947

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19
Q

Who were the FDP and what did the want?

A

they were a number of small liberal groups and they pursued centrist policies

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20
Q

What did the basic law set out?

A
Equal rights
Free speech
Free to form unions
No censorship
All citizens over 18 can vote
Free state education
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21
Q

How many seats was the Bundestag made up of?

A

598

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22
Q

What was the voting structure like in the Basic Law

A

299 seats came from first past the post

299 seats came from proportional representation (parties had to achieve 5%)

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23
Q

What was the chancellor’s position in the Basic Law?

A

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

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24
Q

What year did the CDU achieve majority in the elections?

What percent did they achieve?

A

1957

50.3%

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25
Q

What was the collective bargaining law on industrial relations?

A

Law meaning unions could make negotiations on behalf of members and take action if needed

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26
Q

What year was the collective bargaining law on industrial relations introduced?

A

1949

27
Q

What were the results of collective bargaining law on industrial relations?

A

it maintained labour relations
meant there were fewer strikes
aided political stability

28
Q

What was the Construction Law ?

A

It provided grants to Lander and cities to encourage large scale building projects and reduce the need for temporary accomodation

29
Q

What year was the Construction Law introduced?

A

1950

30
Q

what were the results of the Construction Law?

A

By 1957 4 million new homes were built

Helped refugees integrate into the FRG

31
Q

What was the Equalisation of Burdens?

A

It meant compensation was offered to victims of war time bombing campaigns

32
Q

What year was the Equalisation of Burdens introduced?

A

1952

33
Q

What were the results of the Equalisation of Burdens?

A

This saw the most significant redistribution of income in German history
By 1983 DM126 billion had been raised

34
Q

What was the Works Consultation Law?

A

It encouraged the establishment of worker consultative councils in any enterprise where 20 or more were employed

35
Q

What year was the Works Consultation Law introduced?

A

1952

36
Q

What were the results of the Works Consultation Law?

A

It reduced tension between employers and employees

37
Q

What was the Pensions Act?

A

It meant those that were working would make contributions through their taxes towards the pensions of those who were retired

38
Q

What year was the Pensions Act introduced?

A

1957

39
Q

What were the results of the Pensions Act?

A

This was NOT successful

it was quite expensive and put the social welfare budget under considerable pressure

40
Q

When was the FRG admitted to NATO?

A

May 1955

41
Q

What conditions did the FRG have to agree to to be in NATO?

A

renounce the adoption of nuclear weapons
limit the size of the army
army to remain under direct civilian control

42
Q

What was the EEC?

A

European Economy Community

43
Q

Why did Adenauer want the FRG to be in the EEC?

A

He saw the FRG’s role in a strong united Western Europe as important economically

44
Q

Why was the re-emergence of the SPD a challenge to Adenauer?

A

They had changed their policies to embrace the CDU’s economic goals
They had increasing popularity in elections

45
Q

What were the SPD’s percentages in the 1949 and 1957 elections?

A

1949 29.2%

1957 31.8%

46
Q

What mistakes did Adenauer make?

A

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

47
Q

When was Brandt chancellor?

A

1969 - 1974

48
Q

What were Brandt’s beliefs?

A

He offered a reformist agenda which would promote greater public participation, social reforms and democracy

49
Q

What was Brandt’s key policy?

A

Ostpolitik

50
Q

What difficulties did Brandt face?

A

weakening economic conditions and a resurgence of political extremism

51
Q

When was Schmidt chancellor?

A

1974 - 1982

52
Q

What were Schmidt’s beliefs?

A

He supported ostpolitik and showed the ability to deal with threats like terrorism from the RAF

53
Q

What difficulties did schmidt face?

A

he suffered from policies aimed at reducing inflation and had growing tensions with the FDP

54
Q

When was Kohl chancellor?

A

1982 - 1998

55
Q

What were Kohl’s beliefs?

A

He supported the social market economy

He initially didn’t support ostpolitik but then saw the popularity and so did

56
Q

What difficulties did Kohl face?

A

he faced rising unemployment and social deprivation

57
Q

How were the East / West relations a threat?

A

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

58
Q

How was the East / West relations a limited threat?

A

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

59
Q

How were opposition from smaller parties and pressure groups a threat?

A

2.7 million people signed a petition against the deployment of missiles (Krefield Appeal)
Anti nuclear protests attracted over 250,00 people in 1981

60
Q

How were opposition from smaller parties and pressure groups a limited threat?

A

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

61
Q

How were economic problems a threat?

A

unemployment at 9% in mid 1980s
over 4% of German households lived in poverty
oil crises in 1973

62
Q

How were economic problems a limited threat?

A

had good industrial relations

microelectronics industries grew show adaptability of economy

63
Q

How were scandals and corruption a threat?

A

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

64
Q

How were scandals and corruption a limited threat?

A

the affairs were short lived