social developments in the kaiserreich Flashcards
describe the position of the elites from 1871 to 1914
old land aristocracy were at the top, made up of prussian junkers and military officials.
some served at court with the kaiser
industrial elites didn’t have quite so much power as land aristocracy, lived in spacious homes or on big estates
they were involved in politics via pressure groups or financial support
describe the position of the upper middle class from 1871 to 1914
they were industrial managers, skilled experts in new industries or educated professionals
they had comfortable homes and paid for their children’s education
often involved in local politics
describe the position of the white collared workers from 1871 to 1914
clerks or small businessmen formed the lower middle class
not necessarily wealthier than the workers but were proud of not doing manual work
had similar values to the upper middle class and were aspirational for their children
tended towards conservatism
describe the position of working class from 1871 to 1914
divided:
at the top were skilled workers (head butlers in big houses)
semi skilled workers (coal miners) keen to support reform movements
unskilled workers - vulnerable to economic fluctuation
describe the position of the peasants from 1871 to 1914
worked in the countryside
either subsidual peasants or landless labourers
similar conservative outlooks to junkers
moved into towns when land was divided between sons
what were women’s positions from 1871 to 1914
high ranking women had a leisurely life with charity
upper middle class women would be involved in the home and children but dependant on husband
by 1914 the lower middle class women were starting to take office work opportunities
working class and peasant women were more lively to be manual labourers (sweat shops)
industrial change gave more women jobs in large factories
no right to vote
property was in her husband’s name
how did the elites exert power in the kaiserreich
the alliance of steel and rye
made of junkers , military officers , large factory owners
encouraged the support of right wing pressure groups
who were anti semitic and what did they want
pan german league
wanted to ban jewish migration , blame them for liberal support
why did military officers have power in the kaiserreich
the kaiser liked the military
prussian was based on militarism
kaiser wanted weltpolitik
aristocracy took up more than half of military officers
what was the zabern affair
1913
an officer in zabern responded to some teasing by the locals and was punished for several days and when locals found out they demonstrated against german arrogance.
soldiers charged wildly into the crowds
press were outraged
wilhelm allowed the behavior
when was medical insurance started
1883
it was paid for by employees and employers for workers and their families
how much did real wage increase from 1895 to 1913
25%
when was accident insurance started
1884
paid entirely by employers
1886 it was given to agricultural workers as well
when was the OAP started
1889
for people over 70
when were trade unions recognised
1890
allowed wage disputes