✳️ 1.1 The Origins of the Republic Flashcards
(20 cards)
Q1: When did Germany surrender in World War I?
A1: November 1918
Q2: What happened to Kaiser Wilhelm II in November 1918?
A2: He abdicated and fled to the Netherlands.
Q3: Why did the Kaiser abdicate?
A3: Germany was losing the war, protests spread, and the army and politicians withdrew support.
Q4: Who took over after the Kaiser abdicated?
A4: Friedrich Ebert, leader of the SPD, became Chancellor.
Q5: What was the Council of People’s Representatives?
A5: A temporary government formed by Ebert in November 1918.
Q6: Why was the Weimar Republic set up in Weimar and not Berlin?
A6: Berlin was too dangerous due to left-wing protests and unrest.
Q7: When was the Weimar Republic officially created?
A7: February 1919
Q8: What voting system did the Weimar Constitution introduce?
A8: Proportional representation.
Q9: What rights did the Weimar Constitution give people?
A9: Freedom of speech, equality before the law, and the right to vote (men and women over 20).
Q10: Who was the head of state under the Weimar Constitution?
A10: The President, elected every 7 years.
Q11: What could the President do under the Constitution?
A11: Appoint the Chancellor, call elections, and use Article 48 in an emergency.
Q12: What was the role of the Chancellor?
A12: Head of government; needed support from the Reichstag to pass laws.
Q13: What was the Reichstag?
A13: The German parliament elected by the people.
Q14: Why was proportional representation a weakness?
A14: It created many small parties, leading to weak, unstable coalition governments.
Q15: What was Article 48?
A15: A rule allowing the President to make laws without the Reichstag in an emergency.
Q16: Why was Article 48 a potential danger?
A16: It could be abused to bypass democracy, making dictatorship possible.
Q17: What was a key strength of the Weimar Constitution?
A17: It was more democratic than the Kaiser’s rule, with regular elections and civil rights.
Q18: What were the key weaknesses of the Weimar Republic from the start?
A18: Article 48, proportional representation, and old elites (judges, army) still loyal to the Kaiser.
Q19: Why did some Germans hate the new Weimar government?
A19: They believed it had betrayed Germany by surrendering — the “stab in the back” myth.
Q20: What was the ‘stab in the back’ myth (Dolchstosslegende)?
A20: The false belief that the army hadn’t lost the war but was betrayed by weak politicians.
