Weimar Essay Plans Flashcards
How accurate is it to say that the Weimar Republic fell because support for a democratic government was limited 1918-33
P1 - Support for a democratic Govt. - somewhat acc. - Problems existed throughout, undemocratic parties only recieved significant vote share after 1929.
P2 - Constitutional Problems - somewhat acc. - had existed throughout the Republic, only after economic downturn did the WR fall.
P3 - Economy - Very accurate - caused people to support extremism
To what extent was the failure of the Weimar due to constitutional weakness ?
P1 - Constitutional Problems - some extent - however constitution existed throughout.
P2 - Institutions - some extent - however did not cause the fall of the WR until GD (1929)
P3 - Economy - reduced faith in democracy and support turned to extremism.
‘The failure of the Weimar Republic was due to political parties’ How far do you agree?
P1 - Political Parties - No - Stable by the late 1920s -65 % of the vote (1928)
P2 - Political Leaders - Some skilled ones -eg. Muller’s coaltion + Stresseman.
P3 - Economy - Weak response to GD led to growing extremists (61%-1932).
How significant was the opposition of the conservative elites to the decline of the Weimar Republic in the years 1919-1933.
P1 - Conservative Elites - Facilitated Hitler, rather than actual opposition.
P2 - LW Opposition - Easily crushed by the Freikorp, Radical Left never gained more than 15%.
P3 - RW Opposition - Very significant, overthrew the WR
How accurate is it to say that the main challenge to the survival of the Weimar Republic was the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?
P1 - Terms of ToV - Reparations were not cripling, Opposition only remerged when economy worsened
P2 - Political Extremism - 1928 = 65% democratic.
P3 - Economy - Weak response to GD led to growing extremists (61%-1932).
Was the work of Gustav Stresemann the main reason for the Weimar government’s ability to overcome the challenges it faced between 1919 and 1929?
P1 - Stresseman - Most important - stimulated economic prosperity.
P2 - Foreign Intervention - facilitated by Stresseman
P3 - Strengths of Germany - Recquired investment in order to stimulate economy after WW1.
‘Women’s lives dramatically improved In the Weimar years’ How far do you agree with this view of changes in women’s lives 1919-33?
P1 - Social - Change limited to Cities, rural favoured traditional role.
P2 - Economic - Some change - SPD opposed equal pay + traditional roles still popular.
P3 - Political - Large Change - Vote + Equal Citizens in Constitution, 100 women in RSTG (1920).
How far do you agree that, despite the granting of constitutional rights, the treatment of ethnic minorities in the Weimar years did not significantly change?
P1 - Political - did not significantly change as still persecuted, no protection of citizenship.
P2 - Economic - remained economically disadvantaged due to discrimination in employment
P3 - Social - very limited improvement, severely worsened following rise of RW
How far do you agree that the changes in Weimar education were superficial and unimportant in the years 1919-33
P1 - Reduction of Religious Control - Superficial but religion was an important issue- rural favoured catholic schools, 1930 80% of primary education still confessional schools
P2 - Reduce Class Divide - Superficial / Unimportant - some reform, however many left school at 14, only 2.3% of graduates w/c, education past 10 had to be paid for.
P3 - Improvements in Quality - Limited improvement, parents opposed any form of standardised national education system.
How far did German culture radically change in the years 1918-33?
P1 - Film / Theatre - Largely changed - Rural culture remained largely unchanged / traditional
P2 - Art - Radical change - Expressionism / Anti-War
P3 - Sport - Largely Changed - access to sport was sometimes limited.
Was increased freedom for women the main consequence of the Weimar Constitution in the years 1919–33?
P1 - Increased Freedom for Women - Not main - limited to urban areas, reichstag seats fell during late 1920s.
P2 - Improve Ethnic Minorities’ lives - Racism was still a major problem, worsened with rise of RW
P3 - Political Instability - Main Consequence - problem throughout, PR = unstable RSTG, no minimum vote threshold.
