The German Revolution and The setting up of the Weimar Republic: 1918-1919 Flashcards
What was the Weimar Republic?
The new democratic government that was set up in Germany following the Kaiser’s abdication.
What type of government did armed fighters want to see take over from the Kaiser instead of the new Republic?
An extreme Communist government?
What did the Weimar government sign on the 11th of November 1918?
The armistice ending World War one.
How did Ebert try to boost people’s confidence in the WR between November 1918 and July 1919? (4)
Ebert arranged for civil servants who had helped run Germany stay in office.
He reassured generals no change would occur to the the army.
He reassured business leaders that the government would not take away land or factories
Told workers that the government would support their needs.
Who was allowed to vote in the new democracy?
All men and women of 21 years or over.
What were the strengths of the Weimar Republic’s constitution? (3)
It was very democratic, proportional representation meant that more parties were represented.
The constitution was designed so no person or group had too much power.
There was a good balance between central government and local government.
What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic’s constitution?
Proportional representation meant that parties had to compromise and create coalition governments which made decision making difficult.
The need for compromise made it weak and indecisive in a crisis.
It was a constitution based on division and violence from the start.
On what day did kaiser abdicate and the new Weimar Republic get declared?
9th November 1919.
How were the army and navy showing their unhappiness with the Kaiser?
Soldiers refused to cooperate with the government.
How had the cost of WW1 gotten out of hand by 1918? (2)
Germany could not afford to pay for fighting the war.
There were food shortages throughout Germany.
How were ordinary people showing their unhappiness with the Kaiser? (2)
People were protesting on the street and wanted an extreme revolution.
Some people wanted Communism and some people wanted Anarchism.
How many German citizens died due to food shortages during WW1?
750,000
Why were people fed up of the fighting in WW1?
It had gone on for 4 years, people were fed up of the death with no victory in sight. This decreased faith in the Kaiser.
What year was the German revolution?
1918.
Name the reasons for the revolution? (4)
Faith in leadership was damaged.
Pride in the country was dented.
Common sense prevailed.
People feared for their own survival.
