The Kaiser Germany & world war 1 Flashcards
when was the German empire created & when did it end?
1871-1918
When did Kaiser Wilhelm 2 start ruling the German empire?
from 1888
What did the German constitution make the Kaiser into?
made the Kaiser most powerful figure in the government
What was the German parliament called & how much power did it hold?
Reichstag
held little power
What factors prove that the kaiser had the ultimate power?
personal control of army & foreign policy
appoints & dismisses the chancellor
can dissolve Reichstag at any time
And who could become the kaiser?
inherited position (rules like a king)
What is the bundesrat?
representative members of each state in the German empire
What needs to be given by the bundesrat for all legislations? But what can the kaiser do to the bundesrat?
bundesrat’s consent is needed for all legislation
but can be overruled by the kaiser
What did bundesrat have more than compared to Reichstag?
more power than the Reichstag
How did the Reichstag work? Who are they elected by?
members elected by the public every 3 years ( five years after 1888)
members passed/reject legislation handed down by bundesrat
What could the Reichstag not do?
cant put forward it’s own legislation
no say in who become chancellor/who’s serves in government
What can the chancellor do? What does it not need the support of?
running the government & proposing new legislation
doesn’t need support of Reichstag/Bundesrat to stay in power
what did kaiser Wilhelm 2 not believe in? What did he dislike doing?
didn’t believe in democracy
disliked working with the Reichstag
What did kaiser Wilhelm 2 put his trust in and often relied on?
placed his trust in army
(often) relied on military advisors to make important decisions
What did Germany look like before 1871?
made of independent states (one was called prussia)
What did the Prussian army play an important role in?
Germany’s unification in 1871
What did Wilhelm believe about the upper classes and what did he want to make germany?
upper classes held most of the power (traditional German class system)
a world power
What was Wilhelm 2 influenced by and what he adopt for Germany?
prestige and power
system of militarism
what did the system of militarism mean for Germany?
strengthen the army & navy (military) —–> increasing Germany’s influence
What happened in the early 20th century for Germany?
economy modernised & working classes grew
When did Germany economy expand massively?
1890-1914
What was Germany producing that doubled and what happened by 1914?
What was Germany also successful in?
coal and iron production doubled
1914- 2/3s of Europe’s steel
new industries (chemical manufacturing)
What happened as a result of industrialisation in Germany?
new jobs created –> German cities population grew –> working class grew—>upper class had less economic power
What did working class play a role in Germany?
How were working conditions like?
And what were they starting to have?
larger part in German society
working conditions were poor
growing sense of identity & wanted better representation
What did the working class playing a bigger role in German society contribute to?
rise in socialism —> led to growth in support for SPD (social democratic party) in Germany
What is socialism?
a political ideology promoting equality & public ownership of industry
What did Wilhelm 2 & the German aristocracy fear?
growth in socialism —> a revolution –> overthrowing of monarchy & destroying German class system
What did right wing parties and left wing parties have?
strength and gaining support
What made Prussia different from the other parties?
more power than the other states
What did population increase from in Germany?
40 mil 1871 –> 68 mil 1914
What could farmers not supply?
couldn’t supply all the food needed –> relying on food imports
What was the proof that support for spd was increasing?
30% of seats in Reichstag 1921
What were living standards like in Germany?
low
food & fuel shortages
major flu epidemic
How many widows & fatherless children like?
600,000 widows
2 million children
What became worse during the war in German society?
divisions in living standards between the rich and poor
What did the navy laws allow more of?
building of more battleships
How did war shortages help left-wing parties?
suffering & inequality (war shortages) –> support (left-wing parties)
What is Weltpolitik?
world “foreign” policy
