The Weimar Constitution Flashcards
Adv and Disadv of proportional representation
Adv: ensured that the Reichstag represented smaller parties.
Disadv: no single party won a majority in the Reichstag, coalitions had to be formed hence policies lacked vision and took longer to pass
President Power
Adv: the system was designed to stop someone from taking ultimate power.
Disadv: Article 48 meant the President could pass emergency laws without the approval from the Reichstag (President could abuse their power)
Why was there opposition
Due to signing the Treaty of Versailles in 1919
Treaty of Versailles terms (military)
Germany could only have 100,000 soldiers. Germany could not have any submarines or aircrafts.
Treaty of Versailles terms (territory)
Germany had to give up all of its overseas colonies
Treaty of Versailles terms (Reparations)
The Treaty required Germany to pay reparations for war damage with the final total set as £6.6 billion
Treaty of Versailles terms (War guilt)
Article 231 of the Treaty required that Germany take the blame for starting the First World War. The Germans were upset over this as they didn’t agree with this.
Challenges from the left (The Spartacist Revolt)
In January 1919, led by communists Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. 100,000 workers went on strike and took over many government buildings. Freikorps put down the rebellion. January 6-13 it lasted. Both leaders were arrested and killed by the Freikorps.
Challenges from the right (The Kapp Putsch 1920)
In March 1920, the government attempted to disband the Freikorps. The Freikorps managed to take over Berlin and declared a new government with their leader Wolfgang Kapp. The Weimar government fled Berlin and told the workers of Berlin to go on strike which caused difficulties for the Freikorps which resulted in its collapse and the restoration of the Weimar Government
