Political, economic, social condition by 1929

Question 1

Political

Answer 1

. Constitution promised parliamentary sovereignty supported by ‘fair’ system of universal suffrage and proportional representation
. Article 48 bad tho

Question 2

Economic

Answer 2

. Dawes Plan 1924 helped reparations
. Provided period of apparent stability 1924-9
. This boom didn’t help agriculture
. Industry relied a lot on loans
. Balance of payments unfavourable: overall deficit near 1300mil Reichsmarks 1924-30
. Dawes Plan meant interest rates couldn’t be lowered
. ‘dancing on the edge of a volcano’ - Stresemann
. 1929 Young Plan came too late to make a difference

Question 3

Social

Answer 3

. New freedoms
. Trade unions and arbitration boards gave workers some control over pay + conditions
. Civil rights guaranteed by constitution
. Welfare provisions vastly expanded
. Women got the vote

Question 4

Social - class

Answer 4

. Still clear distinction between them: expanding industrial elite challenged Junkers whose wealth was sapped by agricultural problems
. Military still influential, Reichstag politicians largely from ‘upper bourgeoisie’
. Middle class continued expansion
. Lower ranks suffered by hyperinflation, department stores, cartelisation of industry
. Working conditions generally improved unless rural

Question 5

Social - change

Answer 5

. Upsurge of reformist left, democracy, longer term economic + technological modernisation
. New culture attacked by right wing who attacked Republic itself
. Modernism fostered in the arts + ‘mass culture’ developed, shook dominance of educated bourgeoisie