Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

History 📜🥀☕️ > Unit 1 (The establishment of the weimar republic and its early problems) > Flashcards

Unit 1 (The establishment of the weimar republic and its early problems) Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® U.S. History flashcards European History 101 flashcards AP® European History flashcards AP® World History flashcards World History 102 flashcards U.S. History 102 flashcards World History 101 flashcards U.S. History 101 flashcards
1
Q

What triggered the start of World War I?

A

The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Which alliances were involved in World War I?

A

The Allies (including Britain, France, Russia) and the Central Powers (including Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Why did the war cause political instability in Germany?

A

Prolonged suffering, food shortages, economic collapse, and military defeat led to widespread unrest.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Who was the Kaiser during World War I?

A

Kaiser Wilhelm II

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How did World War I lead to the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II?

A

As Germany faced defeat in 1918, public protests and pressure from military leaders forced Wilhelm to abdicate on November 9, 1918.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What was the result of the Kaiser’s abdication?

A

The establishment of the Weimar Republic and the end of the German monarchy.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What role did the military have in the abdication of kaiser

A

They mutinied and would not follow orders from him.

Carried out protests and strikes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What role did the public have in the abdication of kaiser

A

Carried out protests and strikes.

Blamed Kaiser for the country’s defeat

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What role did the Allies have in the abdication of kaiser

A

Insisted there would be no peace unless the Kaiser abdicated

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Who was Friedrich Ebert

A

-Head of social democratic party
-First president of the Weimar republic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What was Friedrich Ebert’s approach to governing the country?

A

Friedrich Ebert’s aims were idealistic and ambitious, as he sought to balance workers’ demands with business interests while keeping both the left and right satisfied

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Proof that the Weimar republic was popular at the start

A

-Ebert’s party won 40% of seats- he was the new president

-there was 82% turnout for the first election

-Moderate parties got the most votes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Proof that the Weimar republic was unpopular

A

wanted the Kaiser back

-Politicians like Ebert who signed the armistice were called the November criminals (seen as traitors)

-Erzberger who signed it was assassinated

-Senior figures (judges, army leaders) were opposed to the government

-many germans
#wanted a communist revolution
#felt Germany should not have lost the war

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Exam tip How do you answer a 6 marker

A

2 marks- Answer the question generally, overview

3 marks- quotations explaining your prev. judgement (overall)

1 mark- Something that opposes the writers statement or quote from your knowledge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What was stated in the Weimar constitution

A

-The president
Elections for the head of state happened every 7 years

-The chancellor
Appointed by president, must hold support of the Reichstag majority

-The Reichstag
Political parties allotted seats according to the % of votes gained proportional representation

-The german people
All adult women and men could vote

-Article 48
In an emergency the president held powers to pass laws without Reichstag approval

-State governments
Were kept but had more limited power

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Strengths of democracy

A

-more inclusive
-voting represents all germans

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

weaknesses of democracy

A

-faced opposition from public as some did not believe in its benefits

-They did not fully understand how it worked

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

strengths of president’s role

A

-Stability for the nations
-elected- democratic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

weaknesses of president’s role

A

-Ultimately did not hold much power
-most power held by the chancellor- threat, danger

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Strengths of Chancellors role

A

-Holds power and strength-stability

-elected democratically, comes from biggest (most popular) party

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Weaknesses of Chancellors role

A

-Might have to appease president
-power could be exploited

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Strengths of proportional representation

A

-All parties therefore all voices were represented

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Weaknesses of proportional representation

A

-clashing views between parties- very hard to achieve majority
-extreme parties holding power due to major party’s dependence on them for coalitions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Strengths of Article 48

A

In emergencies, government can still function

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Weaknesses of Article 48

A

-Vague definition of emergency- can be exploited

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Strengths of States rights

A

-Local issues can be addressed better
-different states can express themselves

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Weaknesses of states rights

A

-richer states may outperform poorer states
-Germany may not feel united

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What was proportional representation

A

A system whereby political parties get seats in the Reichstag based on the percentage of votes they get.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What was the Reichstag

A

A parliament, government building

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What was the peace treaty of WW1 called

A

Treaty of Versailles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Why did most germans believe the treaty would not be harsh

A
  • they believed all countries should accept responsibility
    -They expected some mercy
    -They expected the treaty to be based on Wilson’s 14 points
    -The kaiser was no longer involved
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What did Clemenceau want from the treaty

A

-vengeance
Germany caused suffering, deaths and destruction of france

-reparations
Wanted to rebuild france

-Taking away military power
Stops germany from invading again

-Breaking apart Germany
-territories

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What did Lloyd George want from the treaty

A

-German colonies
more power

-German navy
Control the seas

-Not too harsh of a punishment
As Germany could be kept as a valuable trade partner

Reparations
to please the enraged public
-Balance of power

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What did Woodrow wilson want from the treaty

A

-Peace
America to be safe (avoidant)

-league of nations

-disarmament

-self determination

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What was germany not invited to

A

The treaty of versaille discussion

36
Q

What were the terms of the treaty of versailles

A

G- guilt
Article 231 stated that germany had to accept blame for starting the war

A- arms
limited to 100,000 soldiers, 6 battleships, no air force, no submarines, no tanks

R- Reparations
6.6 Billion pounds had to be paid

G-German territory
Alsace lorraine to france, Eupen and malmedy to belgium etc

L- league of nations
germany not included

E- extra
Germany and Austria not allowed alliance, some territories given independence

37
Q

What were some of the notable 14 points of Wilson’s

A

-disarmament
-advocated for less colonislaism
-self determination
the principle that people have the right to choose their own government, free from external powers
-league of nations

38
Q

What were German’s reactions like to the treaty of versailles

A

-Shocked by the harshness
-Unaware as they hadn’t been allowed in negotiations
-Humiliated by reduction in army, territory loss
-Humiliated and angered by article 231
-Angered by high reparations
-Blamed Weimar for signing the armistice

39
Q

What are some things the allies justified the harshness with

A

-In 1917 when Russia left the war Germany gained a lot from the Brest-Litovsk treaty which essentially treated them similarly if not worse

-The germans “wouldve done much worse to the allies if they’d lost” they believed

40
Q

Why might the treaty (factually) not have been as harsh

A

-for reparations Germany had not suffered much damage during the war and its economy boomed in the 1920s. The allies had debts as well

-As for army, It was not so necessary for germany to have a large army anyway

-It was not unfair compared to the terms imposed on russia by germany and intended to impose on the allies if germany won the war

41
Q

Who did the left want to hold power in germany

A

-Workers should hold power
-everyone treated equally

42
Q

Who did the right want to hold power in germany

A

-Strong authoritarian leader
-capitalism (private businesses and land owners)

43
Q

Who did the left promote the interests of

A

workers

44
Q

Who did the right promote the interests of

A

capitalism- private businesses and land owners

45
Q

What was the main left political party

A

KPD communist party

46
Q

What was the main right political party

A

National people’s party

47
Q

Who were the left inspired by

A

-Marx
-Russian bolsheviks

48
Q

What was the right inspired by

A

Hatred towards the communists whod opposed the kaiser

49
Q

What was the spartacists uprising

A

The Spartacist Uprising was a 1919 communist revolt in Berlin, led by the Spartacist League, aiming to overthrow the Weimar government and establish a socialist state

50
Q

What was the Kapp putsch

A

The Kapp Putsch was a 1920 right-wing coup attempt by Wolfgang Kapp and the Freikorps to overthrow the Weimar Republic and restore authoritarian rule

51
Q

Who led the Spartacists uprising

A

Rosa luxembourg, Karl liebknecht

52
Q

Causes of the spartacists uprising

A

-power vacuum
-1917 russian revolution

53
Q

Causes of the Kapp putsch

A

-The terms of the treaty of versailles
-Humiliation, need for new leader

54
Q

Initial successes of spartacists uprising

A

-Occupied headquarters of Government
-took control of newspaper and telephone office headquarters

55
Q

Initial successes of Kapp Putsch

A

-Took over Berlin

56
Q

Reasons Weimar gov. found it hard to put down Spartacists uprising

A

-Weimar gov, was new and lacked stability

-Weak army

57
Q

Reasons Weimar gov. found it hard to put down Kapp putsch

A

-The soldiers refused to fight the friekorps as they were both in the army

58
Q

How did the spartacists uprising end

A

-the friekorps were former soldiers from WW1 who hated communism.
They were paid to put down the communists

59
Q

How did Kapp Putsch end

A

-The army refused to partake in the fighting but the people of Berlin refused to support Kapp putsch and went on a strike

60
Q

Positive and negative consequences for the Weimar gov. after SP uprising

A

Negative
-people didn’t feel protected and the government seemed week

Positive
-Proves that majority of people did not want a communist revolution

61
Q

Positive and negative consequences for the Weimar gov. after Kapp putsch

A

Negative
-Weimar shown to be weak again
-Does not have army’s support

Positive
-The majority of people aren’t in support of friekorps or the two extremes for that matter

62
Q

Why was Germany close to bankruptcy by the end of 1918?

A

due to the cost of WW1.

63
Q

How did the treaty of versailles exacerbate germany’s economic state

A

-The allies insisted on huge reparation payments (6.6 Billion pounds)

  • Took away Germany’s income generating areas. (coal and iron reserves)
64
Q

Why did the allies need the payments from Germany?

A

To repay the money they owed to countries such as US

65
Q

When did Germany fail to pay reparations which led to French retaliation?

A

In December of 1922

66
Q

When did Belgian and French troops march in the Ruhr

A

January of 1923

67
Q

What was the Ruhr to Germany

A

The centre of Germany’s production of iron, steel and coal.

68
Q

Why did the French and Belgians barge into the Ruhr

A

Germany failed to pay the reparations due during that time so they decided to take industrial products instead of cash.

69
Q

How did the Weimar government attempt to stop the invasion of the Ruhr?

A

Because they had no military power, it encouraged workers to go on a strike to cut off production and carry out passive resistance

70
Q

What did some germans do in the Ruhr to sabotage the French

A

-arson and sabotage to damage the factories and mines so that production had to stop

71
Q

What was France’s response to the strikes in the Ruhr? What did this cause

A

-to bring in their own workers
-conflict between the French and Germans

72
Q

When did French and Belgian forces leave the Ruhr

A

in July of 1925 after the Dawe’s plan was signed

73
Q

what did the germans government’s reaction bring it

A

temporary popularity and in a way, people were united against the invading forces

74
Q

What were the consequences of the government supporting the strikes

A

-To support and pay the striking workers, Germany had to print more money.

-The more notes were printed, the more the value fell and Germany entered a period of hyperinflation.

75
Q

What was the income during the years 1919-1923 for Germany?

What did the German government do to compensate for this deficiency?

A

-only 1/4 of what it needed.

-The government decided to print more notes

76
Q

What was Germany’s state of economy through 1919-23

A

The government experienced a significant decline in revenue and struggled with a shortage of funds.

77
Q

What system did countries use to determine the value of money

A

At this time countries linked the value of their banknotes with gold.

-If the government has 10 million marks in gold, it should only have 10 million marks in banknotes in circulation . More banknotes reduce value.

78
Q

What happens if there are 20 million marks worth of banknotes and 10 million of gold?

A

Each banknote is worth half as much so that the total value still adds up to 10 MIL

79
Q

Why did hyperinflation hit germany

A

Because the government had started to print more money during WW1 as well as reparations and to pay the striking workers. This accumulated to an economic disaster.

80
Q

What were the effects of hyperinflation

A

-it forced millions of Germans into poverty

-millions of middle class germans were thrown into poverty

81
Q

Who did hyperinflation affect the most

A

People on fixed incomes (who received the same amount of money each week or month) such as pensioners

82
Q

Why was it not as bad for people who worked?

A

their wages rose as well, but the increases in wages were always slower than the price raises.

83
Q

Which groups benefitted from hyper inflation?

A

-People with loans and mortgages could pay them off more quickly because the value of the loans had fallen so much

-people who owned possessions such as land or buildings were protected as the value of these rose in line with inflation

-Farmers could sell their produce at higher prices.

84
Q

Who did the people blame for their struggles?

A

The Weimar government (even though these struggles had started before the republic was formed).

There was a real danger of the government being overthrown if this wasn’t resolved

85
Q

what did Germans call the Treaty of versailles?

A

diktat

86
Q

Who were the friekorps?

A

Armed, right wing paramilitary groups of ex-soldiers

History 📜🥀☕️ (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions