Chapter 3 - Constitution, Uprisings, Streseman, International Agreements, Culture Flashcards
(51 cards)
What is the Weimar Constitution?
established the Weimar Republic in Germany after World War I.
What are the strengths of the Weimar Constitution?
- President elected every 7 years by public, can appoint chancellor.
- Reichstag elected every 4 years by public, proportional representation, can pass laws.
- Freedom of speech and religion; men and women over 20 could vote.
- Not one person or group had too much power.
What are the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution?
- Article 48 - the president make laws without Reichstag in an emergency.
- Proportional representation - small parties gained seats (nazis) = in short, weak coalition govs
- Army generals who served the Kaiser - opposed the Weimar Republic.
Who were the Spartacists?
- left-wing group
- German Communist Party (RPD)
- opposed capitalism
- wanted land and business shared equally.
What was the Spartacist Rising?
- January 1919
- poorly planned
- crushed by the Freikorps
- deaths of 100 Spartacists, incl. Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.
What did the right-wing Freikorps support?
- supported capitalism (private ownership)
- ex-soldiers who wanted to maintain control
- angry about Germany losing the war
What was the Kapp Putsch?
- March 1920
- significant threat to the Weimar Republic
- led by Wolfgang Kapp
- marched into Berlin to set up a new government
- Ebert launched a general strike = Freikorps gov collapsed
Who were the Social Democrats (SD)?
- led by Ebert
- wanted to restore law and order
- fearful of communists.
What were the political murders from 1919-22?
- 376 political murders from 1919 to 1922
- mostly left-wing or moderate
- Hugo Haste
- Matthias Erzberger
- Walter Rathenau (Weimar foreign minister).
What was the Stresemann’s rentenmark?
- new bank and currency
- limited supply of notes that had value
What was pros of the Stresemann’s rentenmark?
- Hyperinflation ended
- trust in German currency
- employment increased
What was cons of the Stresemann’s rentenmark?
- People lost lots of money in hyperinflation
- knocked confidence in the Weimar Republic.
What was the Dawes Plan of 1924?
- Reparations decreased to £50 million per year
- US banks gave loans
- $25 billion between 1924-30
What was pros of the Dawes Plan?
- French left Ruhr
- They could afford to pay reparations
- so allies reassured
- employment and trade income increased
What was cons of the Dawes Plan?
Extremeist parties still angry about reparations
= political instability.
What was the Young Plan of 1929?
Reparations reduced from £6.6 billion to £2 billion with an extra 59 years to pay
What was pros of the Young Plan?
- Lower taxes
- boosted industry and created jobs.
- confidence in WR increased
What was cons of the Young Plan?
- Extremeist parties angry about extra time
- threaten stability of WR
Fill in the blank: The Dawes Plan was implemented in _______.
1924
When was the young plan introduced
1929
What countries were involved in the Locarno Pact of 1925?
Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Belgium
What was the primary outcome of France making peace with Germany in the Locarno Pact?
New 1919 border established
Rhineland permanently demilitarised
What was a pro of the Locarno Pact?
- War in Europe less likely
- Germany treated as an equal - boost for reputation of WR
What was a con of the Locarno Pact?
Extremist parts hated Versailles borders
