Why were there challenges to Weimar? Flashcards
Why did Germans surrender in 1918?
-they were losing and it was impacting the country and causing things like starvations and they had lost too much money
-they had to become a democratic country
What was Ebert’s priorities?
-rebuilding Germany’s economy
What led to the Workers’ and Soldiers’ councils?
-many Germans welcomed peace but others kept fighting which caused widespread uprisings
-the government was rapidly loosing control of the situation
When did Kaiser Wilhelm abdicate?
-9th November
Who was power passed to after Wilhelm abdicated?
-to a Council of People’s Representatives under Ebert (the leader of the SDP (social democratic party)
What were Ebert’s aims?
-to restore order to avoid a full scale revolution
-to change the way Germany was governed and made a Democratic Republic
-to sign the Armistice and end the war
-improve finance
-getting rid of Kaiser
What were the positives and negatives of the president system?
+elected every 7 years->democracy
-Article 48 meant that the President wouldn’t have to consult other members of parliament in an emergency
What were the positives and negatives of parliament?
+the Reichstag was an assembly of people (deputies) who were elected and held accountable by the Reichstrat (delay proposals)
-proportional representation made it hard to have a strong and stable government (no way to solve)
What were the 2 houses in Parliament?
-Reichstag->main representative body
-Reichstradt->lander
What were the positives and negatives about the Bill of Rights?
+free speech and right to vote
-freedom for extremis speech which can cause danger
What was the positive of the Supreme Court?
-handle all the laws in place
Who was the first president?
-Ebert
Who was the first Chancellor?
-Scheidemann
