The rule of Kaiser Wilhelm II Flashcards
(from 1890-1914)
how many independent states had joined together to create Germany/ the German Empire. What was it’s constitution(type) and how did this work
25 states
it was a federal constitution meaning that each state kept their own governments any royalty (eg princes) and any previous constitutions they have
what is the role of the Kaiser
control of the army and foreign policy
appoints and dismisses chancellor
can dissolve reichstag
can by pass Bunderstrat
the role of the chancellor
responsible for day to day running of the government
suggest laws and legislation
can dissolve the reichstag
the role of the federal system and problems it causes
collects taxes therefore hard for central government to raise enough taxes from federal system made of the 25 states
appoints a representative to Bunderstrat
role of the Bunderstrat
all laws need their consent chancellor send laws to them votes on reichstag dissolution
(dominated by prussain ministers)
what is the role of the richstag
can pass or reject laws handed to them by the bunderstrat
elected by the public every 3 years
how did the Kaiser’s trust of the army affect his reign
he often relied on millitary advisors to help him make decisions
adopted a system of militarism- strengthening Germany’s millitary to increase its influence on the world stage
he also wanted Germany to become a world power
what happened to the German Economey between 1890 and 1914 why and who benifited
it expanded massively and production of coal and oil doubled and by 1914 Germany produced 2/3 of Europe’s steel and ventured into new industries like chemical manufacturing making buissness and factory owners very rich
why was there a rise in socialism in germany?
as a result of industrialiseation the working classes expanded and played a larger part in German society but heir working condtions were terrible si they wanted better representation leading to rising support in the SPD the social democtratic party( 3.3 million membership in 1914)
why didn’t the kaiser want to pass new reform in favour of the SPD
the didn’t want to encourage socalist ideas that would lessen his power or to annoy the rich buissness owners that had grate influence with the kaiser but he had to pass some for fear of a socalist uprising
what happened to politics that made it especally hard for the Kaiser in his rule
german policics became more radical as the rich wanted to preserve their power and the poor wanted to share it so he was under pressure to introduce socalist reforms that would anger his supporters but the popularity of the spd made it difficult for any other laws to be passed through the reichstag meaning that the reichstag had more influence in politics than it ever had before
what socalist reforms did the kaiser pass
1891 workers’ protection act
what did the kaiser do in 1897 to divert attention away from socalism
intoduced Weltpolitik to focus on expanding \germany’s territory and boosting the size of its army and navy to make Germany a world power he also introduced navy laws to make people feel patriotic
what were the naval laws
1898- build up navy to rival britain’s and increase germany’s fleet to 19 battleships
1900-17 year naval expansion programme
propoganda was usd to promote navy laws and inspire patriotism
these laws were popular and the socalist oppostion to them was seen as unpatriotic leading to the SPD loosing 36 seats in 1907
