Politics in the FRG (2)

Question 1

When did Helmut Schmidt (SPD) become chancellor?

Answer 1

1974 - 1982

• Became Chancellor in a time of economic and domestic upheaval
• He continued to win elections in 1976 and 1980 due to there being no established political opponents

Question 2

What did Helmut Schmidt receive criticisms for?

Answer 2

• His economic policies
• Co-determination in 1976
• High taxation and welfare cuts made him seem very conservative in his policies

Question 3

When did Helmut Schmidt resign and why?

Answer 3

• Resigned on 1st October 1982
• Due to a constructive vote of no confidence
• Was subject due political opposition and the new ‘Green Party’

Question 4

Who replaced Helmut Schmidt as chancellor?

Answer 4

Helmut Kohl

Question 5

Who were the greens and why were they getting a share of the vote?

Answer 5

• Environmental issues were growing with use of nuclear power plants etc
• March 1977 15,000 protested the building of a nuclear power plant in Lower Saxony
• Jan 1980 they formed a political party and from 1983 they gained a steady share of the vote

Question 6

Give figures for the SPD vote decreasing and the Greens vote increasing

Answer 6

1983: Greens 27 seats, SPD 193 seats
1987: Greens 42 seats, SPD 186 seats

Question 7

What did Helmut Kohl to validate his position as he was an unelected chancellor?

Answer 7

• Called elections on 6th March 1983
• CDU won 48.8% of the vote
• He still received opposition from the Green Party and Republicans on both sides of the Bundestag

Question 8

Why did Helmut Kohl promise continuity within the government?

Answer 8

• He was chancellor in a time where the media was uncovering lots of corruption scandals which affected everyone apart from the Greens
• He promised to continue Ospoltik and seek stability
• There was lots of terrorism e.g bombing of US air base in Rein-Main and bombing of Frankfurt airport

Question 9

When did Hungary open its border?

Answer 9

1989 opened its border to the West and lifted travel restrictions

Question 10

When did East Germany ease its travel restrictions and what was the result of this?

Answer 10

1st January 1989

- By end of September 161,000 had applied to emigrate

Question 11

When did Austria abolish Visa requirements and who for?

Answer 11

August 1989

• For citizens of Hungary and East Germany
• Allowed for 3,000 East Germans to flee West through Hungary and Austria in the same month

Question 12

When did Hungary allow for East Germans to cross any border?

Answer 12

September 1989

- Led to mass demonstrations for change o political system and borders to be opened

Question 13

When did the announcement occur that borders were now open?

Answer 13

9th November 1989

- Thousands rushed to the Berlin Wall to break it down