Booklet 1 - Kaisereich Flashcards
(83 cards)
1
Q
How does Constitution give the Kaiser/government power?
A
- Kaiser has right to appoint or dismiss chancellor not the Reichstag (vote of no confidence 1913)
- Reichstag cannot introduce or amend laws (1914 Bethman-Hollweg stopped working with them)
- Prussian dominance in Reichstag (17 seats) ensured constitution remained unchanged after 1890
- Kaiser/Chancellor extensive power over foreign policy
2
Q
Suppression of socialism 1890-1914
A
- Caprivi’s new course took less aggressive approach to reduce support for SPD (end to anti-socialist laws)
- Hohenlohe and Bulow attempted to bring back anti-socialist laws
3
Q
Growth of socialism 1890-1914
A
- Anti-Union bill thrown out by Reichstag 1899
- Subversion bill thrown out 1894
- By 1912 the SPD were the largest party in Reichstag (110 seats)
- Caprivis new course unsuccessful as the SPD won 44 seats in 1893
- socialist and liberal pressure forced government to agree to secret ballot in 1904 and payment for reichstag deputies in 1906
4
Q
Military policy 1890-1914
A
- Weltpolitik (turning Germany into a world power)
- 1893 Reichstag agreed to increase military 24,000 men
- Caprivi had to agree to military budget being discussed every 5 years and military service being reduced to 2 years
- Bulow gained support from Centre Party (1902) and Progressives (1907) for Weltpolitik
- Bulow resigned over financial bill being rejected by Reichstag which would have increased military spending
- in 1913 SPD voted in favour of war budget and for military credits in 1914
- Bethman-Hollweg increased size of military in 1913
5
Q
Role of Centre party 1971-1890
A
- won 23% of vote and were second largest party in 1878
- largest party in 1884
- opposition to kulturkampf (was ended in 1878)
- supported Bismarck to form anti-socialist Bloc in Reichstag
6
Q
geography and natural resources of germany 1871-1890
A
- raw materials available: coal in Ruhr, Saar and iron in Alsace-loraine
- navigable rivers, such as the Rhine and Elbe
- broad flat plains to build railroads
- output of heavy industry increased 0.14 million tonnes in 1871 to 2.13 i’m 1890
7
Q
growing population and education im germany 1871-1890
A
- population was 41 million 1871 but 49 million by 1890
- 1890 more
graduates from munich than whole of britain - elementary system considered best in the world
- focus on science and technical skills helped growing industry
8
Q
government economic policies 1871-1890
A
- currency reform when Germany was unified, mark was tied to gold
- Bismarck’s ‘iron and rye’ tarriff 1879 which imposed tarriffs on industrial and agricultural imports - protected economy from worldwide depression
- alliance with NL 1871-78 allowed him to formulate policy in line with german businessmen
9
Q
Decline in agriculture during kaisereich
A
- GNP share of agriculture fell from 40% in 1880s to 25%
- poor harvests in 1870: increase in US imports
- still prominent with 4 million acres brought under cultivation 1880-1900
-growth in industry helped farmers due to new fertilisers and machinery
10
Q
Septennial Law 1874
A
gave Reichstag some control over military budget
11
Q
Conservative presence in Reichstag 1871-1900
A
- 100 seats in 1893
- largest share of vote in 1878,1881,1887
12
Q
Anti-sociliast laws 1878
A
- banned socialist meetings, publications and organisations
13
Q
Kulturkampf
A
- political conflict between Catholic Church and Bismarck
14
Q
Public View of military 1890-1914
A
- ambitious upper-middle class families sought a commission for the sons to enhance social status
- size of military shows popularity (800,000 by 1914)
- even SPD rallied behind war effort
- Burgfrieden
- literature, parades on Sedan day and memorial to Germany’s role in defeat of Napoleon
15
Q
Naval League: when was it set up and membership numbers
A
- 1898
- 1 million members before 1914
16
Q
Army League: when was it established and membership numbers?
A
- 1912
- 300,000
17
Q
growth of trade unions pre-wwI
A
- General Federation of Trade Unions had over 2.5 million members
- Europes largest labour organisation
18
Q
May Laws 1873
A
catholic education supervised by state and financial aid to catholic church ended
19
Q
Personality of Bismarck:
A
- Junker background
- manipulated the Kaiser with temper tantrums, tears, hysterical outbursts and threats of resignation
- intelligent and hard working
- loathed having to work with the Reichstag
20
Q
How many members of the Bundesrat did Prussia have?
A
17
21
Q
What are the roles of the Kaiser:
A
- appointing a chancellor and ministers
- calling/dissolving reichstag
- directly command the army
- control foreign policy: making treaties and declaring war
- gave assent to all laws
- devise laws (need to consult the chancellor and Bundesrat)
- final say in constitutional disputes
22
Q
Role of the government (chancellor and ministers):
A
- decided outlines of policy with the Kaiser/Bundesrat
- Chancellor gave assent to all laws
23
Q
Roles of the Reichstag:
A
- gave consent to all laws
- question/debate/agree to or reject a law proposed by the chancellor
24
Q
Roles of the Bundesrat:
A
- could initiate legislation
- had to approve new laws
- could veto all legislation except a budget approved by the Reichstag
- had to give approval to the Kaiser for a declaration of war
25
Powers of the Chancellor:
- presided over the Bundesrat meetings
- had to countersign imperial decrees
- gave assent to all laws
26
Relationship between Wilhelm I and Bismarck:
- Wilhelm dependant on Bismarck
- mostly allowed Bismarck to govern in his own way
- Bismarck usually got his way by threatening to resign
27
National Liberals (NL)
- supported unification
- party of the Protestant middle classes
- supported by wealthy, well-educated men
- favoured free trade and strong Germany
- became more conservative from 1875
28
Centre Party (Z)
- represented German catholics
- opposed Bismarck
- conservative regarding the constitution
- favoured decentralisation
- liberal in attitudes to social reform
29
Social Democratic Party (SDP):
- represented working class
- worked with trade unions
- supported reduction in power of elites
- supported extension of welfare reforms
30
German Conservative Party (DKP):
- represented Protestant and aristocratic Prussian Junker landowners
- most right-wing
- detested the Reichstag as it was elected by universal suffrage
31
Free Conservatives (FKP):
- represented landowners, industrialists and businessmen
- strong supporters of Bismarck
32
Progressives (DFP):
- believed in a liberal, constitutional state
- disliked centralism and militarism
- not supportive of Bismarck
- wanted to extend powers of Reichstag
33
Which parties were in favour of Bismarck?
- National Liberals
- Free Conservatives
34
What was Bismarck’s power reliant on?
His strong relationship with Wilhelm I
35
When was the Reichsbank established?
1876
36
Examples of laws introduced to bring administrative and economic unity:
- state bank (Reichsbank) established 1876
- single system of weights and measures
- a single court system with a central Supreme Court for appeals in Leipzig (1879)
37
What percentage of the German population were catholic?
37%
38
How many deputies did the Centre Party have by 1871?
63
Second largest party
39
What did Bismarck say about the Centre Party in 1871?
Portrayed them as the ‘home’ of his enemies
40
Why did Bismarck end Kulturkampf?
- he favoured a closer relationship with Catholic Austria
- Bismarck’s natural allies (Protestant conservatives) were against it as it promoted hostility towards religion
- believed growing threat of socialism was more significant and he should focus on that instead
41
What were the results of the ending of Kulturkampf?
- relations with Papacy improved
- Bismarck able to are his alliance with Austria in 1879
- Centre Party transformed itself into a purely religious party
- Bismarck was freed from dependence on NL
42
What was the Central Association of German Manufacturers and when was it set up?
1878 - campaigned for the introduction of tariffs on imports in Germany
43
Why was Bismarck in favour of tariffs?
- threat to agricultural incomes would undermine economic position of Junker aristocracy
- Germany should not be dependant on foreign imports but able to feed itself
- tariffs could provide the gov with revenue not dependent on annual Reichstag vote
44
What did the NL manage to get Bismarck to agree on in 1874?
To allow the Reichstag to vote on the army budget every 7 years
45
When did Bismarck introduce his tariffs?
1879
46
Who was Bismarck supported by after 1878 election?
The conservatives
47
What were the impacts of Bismark’s tarriffs?
- NL split and lost influence
- Bismarck supported by the Conservatives
- Reich became more hinted in its support of protection
- cost of living raised for workers: more inclined to support SPD
48
Results of the Anti-Socialism legislation:
- 15,000 socialist activists arrested
- cabinet, civil services, Prussian Landtag all purged in 1880 to remove liberal sympathies
- SPD struggled to find candidates: in 1881 Bebel stood in 35 different constituencies
- number of people voting SPD more than doubled between 1878 and 1890
49
How did Bismarck attempt to undermine the appeal of Socialism?
- medical insurance (1883)
- accident insurance (1884)
- old-age pensions (1889)
50
How many Poles and Jews did Bismarck expel?
34,000
51
When did Wilhelm I die?
1888
52
Who replaced Wilhelm I and for how long?
Frederick - 3 months before he also died
53
What did Wilhelm II and Bismarck disagree about?
- Wilhelm did not want Bismarck to control policy-making as he wanted personal rule
- Wilhelm was more sympathetic to socialism and believed he could win over the industrial workers where Bismarck had failed
- Bismarck wanted a close relationship with Russia, whereas Wilhelm favoured Austria
- argued over who ministers should approach first
54
When did Bismark resign?
1890
55
Wilhelm II personality:
- young: only 27
- unpredictable
- adored a militarist culture: switched his military uniform multiple times a day
- sensitive to criticism and had wild outbursts of rage
56
Who were Wilhelm II’s chancellors (in order)?
- Caprivi (1890-94)
- Hohenlohe (1894-1900)
- Bulow (1900-09)
- Bethman-Hollweg (1909-1917)
57
What was Caprivi’s ‘new course’?
- end anti-socialist laws
- more influence over policy-making for ministers
- reduction in tariffs
- social reforms (e.g. recognition of trade unions, reduction in working hours)
58
Who approved of Caprivi’s new course and who opposed it?
Approved: working class, socialists, industrialists, centre party and national liberals
Opposed: conservative Prussian landowners and aristocratic elite
59
What did Caprivi and the Reichstag agree on in 1893 (military)?
Reduction in military service from 3 to 2 years and Reichstag could discuss military budget every 5 years and in return the army was increased by 84,000 men.
60
Why did Caprivi resign?
- found the Kaiser difficult to work with (e.g. he tried to interfere when Caprivi tried to allow the churches to have more control over education)
- when socialists gained support Wilhelm wanted to take a harsher approach again and did this without Reichstag permission
61
Why did Wilhelm II choose Hohenlohe as his next chancellor?
He posed no political threat to those surrounding the Kaiser.
Described him as a ‘straw doll’
62
What bills introduced by Hohenlohe were thrown out by the Reichstag?
Subversion Bill 1894
Anti-Union Bill 1899
63
What bill was rejected from Wilhelm’s Minister for the Interior by the Reichstag?
A bill imposing prison sentences for strike action deemed harmful to ‘public security’ in 1899
64
What is Weltpolitik?
An expansionist foreign policy including colonial expansion and the development of the navy.
65
What were the aims of the Pan-German League?
- to unite ethnic Germans around the world
- to acquire colonies
- so suppress socialism and democracy
66
What were the aims of the Navy League?
- to promote naval expansion
- promote growth of colonies
- put pressure on Reichstag to pass bills
67
What were the aims of the Agrarian League?
- protect agricultural interests
- lobby for tariff protection to help farmers
68
What were the aims of the Imperial League against Social Democracy?
- curb the growth of socialism (used propaganda)
- promote conservative values
69
What were the aims of the Industrialist’s League?
- promote manufacturing interests
- promote exports
70
What were the aims of the Army League?
- promote expansion of German army
- pressured Reichstag to pass army bills
71
Why was Bulow chosen as a chancellor?
Wilhelm II really trusted him - visited him every day and went out of his way to flatter the Kaiser
72
How did Wilhelm II’s Minister for the Interior (Wehner) try to curb support away from socialism 1900-1903?
Social reforms: extending accident and health insurance.
73
Were Wehner’s attempts so curb socialist support successful?
No - socialists got credit for his reforms and rising food price concerns as a result of tariffs meant SPD increased its vote in 1903.
74
What reforms occurred due to socialist pressure under Bulow?
- introduction of a secret ballot in 1904
- payments for Reichstag deputies 1906
75
Why did Bulow and Wilhelm II fall out?
- Bulow did not manage to gain the Reichstag’s support for the Kaiser’s increased military spending
- income from new tariffs was insufficient
76
What was the ‘Bulow Bloc’?
Coalition negotiated by Bulow in 1907 - consisted of the Conservatives, members of Agrarian League and Liberals.
Aimed to reduce his reliance of the Centre Party.
77
What happened to the National Debt between 1900-1908?
It doubled
78
Why did Bulow resign?
- finance bill of 1909 was defeated
- scandals surrounding his alleged homosexuality and the Kaiser’s interview with the Daily
79
Why was the Kaiser’s relationship with Bethman-Hollweg relatively harmonious?
Hollweg was happy to allow the Kaiser to take control of military and foreign affairs
80
What liberal reform was passed in 1911?
Introduction of universal male suffrage at 21
81
What military agreement was there in 1913?
Reichstag agreed to increase size of army again
82
When was the vote of no-confidence for Bethman-Hollweg?
1913 - Kaiser kept him in office anyway
83
