political authority 1871 Flashcards
what was the german empire made up of before 1871
until the early 19th centaury the germany had been made up of 300 states loosely grouped together by the holly roman empire however this was destroyed by napoleon in 1806
1815- 39 states created by the congress of vienna to try and increase stability in the area
prussia and austria competed for
what two wars brought germany together under prussian rule
otto von bismark (cheif minister of prussia) took prussia t war against austria in 1862 and formed the north german confederation in 1867
the franco prussian war of 1870-1871 extended the confederation to include southern states of germany
wilhelm 1 is proclaimed kaiser of germany
what was the Kaisers role in the 1871 german constitution
hereditary monarch
appoint and dismiss chancellor
call and dissolve Reichstag
command the army
controlled foreign policy
gave assent to laws along with the chancellor
consulted with chancellor advisors and bundesrat
had final say on dispute over the constitution
what was the chancellor and ministers (governement) role in the 1871 constitution
appointed and dismissed by the kaiser
decided outlines of policies for the kaiser
what was the Reichstag’s role in the 1871 constitution
members were elected by men over 25
free speech
elections every 3 years by proportional representation
consent to laws
could question , debate or reject laws
could not amend laws
could not dismiss chancellor or ministers
what was the bundesrats role in the 1871 constitution
58 reps from the 25 state governments in germany in proportion to the size of the state
presided over by chancellor
could initiate legislation
decisions made by majority vote
had to approve the Kaisers declaration of war
what was kaiser wilhelm 1 role
he was a reluctant ruler and delegated much of his power to bismark
wilhelm introduced pensions and health care whilst focusing on modernising industry and military
what was bismarks role
took charge of foreign policy and was charged with keeping peace around the empire
negotiated a defensive alliance with austria-hungary
1866-1878 he was allied mostly with the national liberals and conservatives were worried he had rejected his roots
he feared the catholic parties
took prussia into 3 wars in 10 years
he could manipulate the kaiser to get what he wanted
who were the national liberals
supported bismarks ideas of unification
protestant middle class men
wanted a strong germany and a constitutionally liberal state
who were the centre party
german catholics who opposed bismark
wanted to preserve the position of the catholic church
conservative constitution but liberal social reforms
who were the social democratic party
working class and trade unions who wanted reduction on the power of the elite and more welfare reforms
who were the german conservative party
protestant aristocrats and prussian land owners who detested the reichstag because it was elected
right wing
dominant in prussia
who were the free conservatives
land owners and business men who supported bismark
who were the progressives
believed in liberal constitutional state but disliked centralism and militarism
wanted to give reichstag more power
