political stability FRG Flashcards

1
Q

when did political parties begin to be set up in Germany?

A

June 1945

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2
Q

what was the message of all political parties in the 50s and early 60s, even those who had previously been more extreme?

A

moderation and controlling extremism

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3
Q

when did the KPD announce itself, what did it want?

A

11th June 1945, wanted German socialism with land reform, new education system and democratic gov

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4
Q

when did the SPD re-form?

A

15th June 1945

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5
Q

how were the policies of the SPD more radical than those of the KPD?

A

wanted nationalisation of banks, land, key industries and social welfare systems to be provided

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6
Q

what two significant church based groups were set up?

A

Christian Democratic Union (CDU)
Christian Social Union (CSU)

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7
Q

why did the faith based groups and liberal groups negotiate to form single parties, what did they learn from Weimar?

A

having number of smaller parties with similar aims meant people spread votes and their power was reduced

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8
Q

what did the liberal groups form in 1947?

A

the Free Democratic Party (FDP)

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9
Q

who did all faith groups join, except CSU?

A

CDU

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10
Q

when was the Basic Law announced?

A

23rd May 1949

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11
Q

what did the Basic Law seem to outline?

A

a very free and liberal democracy

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12
Q

what groups that opposed Weimar no longer had significant power bases to oppose a gov?

A

army, trade unions, monarchists and aristocracy

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13
Q

what 3 things did the basic law promise?

A

equal rights regardless of race, political views, religion etc
free speech and no censorship
state education for all

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14
Q

what clauses showed that the Basic Law could be used to be more repressive?

A

could ban political parties that undermined FRG

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15
Q

when did the first FRG elections take place?

A

14th August 1949

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16
Q

what percent of the vote did the CDU/CSU, SPD, FDP win in the first election?

A

CDU/CSU- 31%
SPD-29.2%
FDP-11.9%

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17
Q

who was the first chancellor of the FRG?

A

Adenauer - CDU leader

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18
Q

when was Adenauer chancellor?

A

1949-1963

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19
Q

why did Adenauer have critics?

A

people opposed his authoritarian style and forceful management of Bundestag

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20
Q

what was the benefit of Adenauer’s forceful personality?

A

kept coalitions working together until 1957 when CDU/CSU won majority

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21
Q

what goals did Adenauer set out to achieve?

A

uniting Germany and closer European integration

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22
Q

why did people support unification with the West?

A

fastest route for FRG to become self governing and quickest way to rebuild economy

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23
Q

why did people oppose closer relations with West?

A

would hold back German unification

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24
Q

what happened in 1953 that made it harder for smaller parties to gain a seat?

A

changes to vote allocations and seats

25
Q

what happened in 1952 and 1956 that ensured political stability?

A

1952 SPD banned
1956 KPD declared unconstitutional and banned

26
Q

how many parties were in the Bundestag after 1956?

A

3

27
Q

what did Article 131 of the Basic Law announced, why was this opposed?

A

allowed ex-Nazis to work in civil service, people felt it went too far and showed Nazi sympathy

28
Q

why was Adenauer’s creation of a gov controlled television station declared unconstitutional?

A

executive branch interfered with legislative branch through elections, gov having too much control over the people

29
Q

what was the Der Spiegel affair, when was it?

A

Oct 1962, magazine published article criticising performance of troops in NATO exercises, Adenauer supported arrest of journalists, had to resign

30
Q

what was the Grand Coalition?

A

coalition between two largest political parties - SPD and CSU

31
Q

what did Brandt favour that remained popular until 1989?

A

Ostpolitik- establishing closer relations with East Germany

32
Q

how often was the president elected under the basic law?

A

every 5 years

33
Q

what was the 5% rule?

A

parties had to have 5% of vote to have seats in gov

34
Q

how many Lander was the basic law ratified by?

A

2/3s

35
Q

what imperative was accepted by everyone immediately after the war?

A

need to de-Nazify

36
Q

when was the only time turnout was below 84%?

A

1949

37
Q

what does high turnout show?

A

high levels of support and willingness to participate in democracy

38
Q

what showed people supported democracy itself not just a democratic gov?

A

people demonstrated against gov changes that restricted democracy + civil liberties
marched against repressive regimes in other countries

39
Q

how did the figure for number of people who favoured the restoration of the monarchy change?

A

1/3 supported restoration down to 1/10

40
Q

what was integral to political stability?

A

economic stability

41
Q

how was economic stability maintained?

A

social market economy, currency reform, economic miracle, trade + exports, good standard of living

42
Q

how did joining NATO help the FRG?

A

improved trade, closer relations with other countries, boost trade able to produce war materials

43
Q

what could the Allied High Command do if the gov was at risk of extremism?

A

could take over the government

44
Q

what did the Basic Law assert was the primary duty of government?

A

the protection of human rights and dignity

45
Q

how was the Bundestag elected?

A

universal suffrage
1/2 seats directly elected
1/2 seats based on % of votes each party received

46
Q

how was the Federal Constitutional Court elected, what was its role?

A

16 judges half elected by Bundestag half elected by Bundesrat
guardian of the constitution

47
Q

what was the rule of law?

A

constitutional court upheld the law and ensured the gov acted legally, power to guarantee basic civil right and arbitrate disputes

48
Q

what was different about a no confidence vote?

A

chancellor couldn’t be removed by one unless an alternative party ready to take power with sufficient support

49
Q

what was the role of the president like?

A

elected for one term only, ceremonial role, little political responsibility

50
Q

how did Adenauer increase CDU support?

A

appealed to rural and urban voters, attracted middle ground of politics, favoured stability

51
Q

what was the Construction Law of 1950?

A

grants provided to Lander to encourage large scale building projects

52
Q

what had the construction law resulted in by 1957?

A

building of 4 million new homes

53
Q

what was the Equalisation of Burdens Act 1952?

A

offered compensation to victims of wartime bombing

54
Q

what was the OEEC?

A

organisation for european economic cooperation

55
Q

when was the FRG accepted into NATO?

A

May 1955

56
Q

how many refugees from the GDR fled to West Germany in 1953, 1957 and first months of 1961?

A

1953- 331,390
1957-261,620
1961-155,400

57
Q

how did the SPD change its policies at the Bad Godesberg conference to become the key opposition to the CDU/CSU?

A

new commitment to defence and European economic integration
amended its constitution

58
Q
A