The Creation of a Republic 1918-32 Flashcards
why was a new constitution necessary
military defeat caused political, economic and cultural crisis which destroyed the government forcing the abdication of the kaiser
new democracy had to be created
who was prince max of baden
a german aristocrat, worked for red cross serving for russian prisoners of war, was a liberal and became chancellor after the war
what happened in the revolution from above
-german government forced to admit that defeat was inevitable
-leaders appealed to the US president to negotiate a peace deal
-a new chancellor Max of Baden was made head of a democratic government which helped to appeal to allies to act with sympathy
when was the revolution from above
september 1918
what happened in the revolution from below
-military defeat came with economic collapse
-shock of defeat led to a mutiny in the port of Kiel
-soldiers joined workers in establishing revolutionary councils and demanding the abdication of the Kaiser for starting the war
how many died in 1918
293,000 from starvation and hypothermia
when did Max of Baden announce that the Kaiser was abdicating
9 Nov 1918, brought end to German monarchy
what did the abdication of the Kaiser lead to
the start of a republic and a left wing government being led by the SPD (Ebert)
Later they writ the new constitution
what were democratic features of the new constitution
-universal suffrage
-president elected every 7 years
-president appointed the chancellor
-chancellor must work with elected representatives to pass laws
-elections were based on proportional representation
what were liberal features of the new constitution
-civil rights were enforced (freedom of expression and freedom of assembly were protected)
what were authoritarian features of the new constitution
-article 48 gave president emergency powers
-he could suspend the constitution/dissolve the government and rule by decree any time he wanted for a limited amount of time in a state of emergency
why were people suspicious about democracy
-gave power to uneducated people including women who werent educated in politics
-gave power to the poor who had an interest in threatening the wealth of the rich
-was based on discussion and elections so was weak compared to traditional forms of government or dictatorship
what was Bismarcks nickname
the iron chancellor
why did people respect the army so much
-was an effective organisation that protected the nation
-1871 germany successfully captured Alsace Lorraine from France
-army had expanded and defended the empire in africa
helped to strengthen peoples pride in the nation and unite the country in patriotism
how did people express their pride in the army
-forming groups e.g. Navy League, Society for German Colonisation
-campaigned for undemocratic goals
