Creation and Collapse Of The Weimar Republic Flashcards
(38 cards)
What is a Constitution?
A set of principals that set out the distribution of power within a political system, the relationships between political institutions, the limits of government jurisdiction, the rights of citizens and the method of amending the constitution itself.
What is the main purpose of a Constitution?
It’s a legal limit for the government and the people, it also creates a boundary.
Reasons why the Constitution was necessary
- ‘Revolution from above’
- The main political parties wanted a greater say in the management of the country
- The military wanted the new government to be blamed for the loss of the war
- To deal with the economic collapse and stop workers etc from mutiny
Some primary left wing ideas
- Promoting equality
- High taxation (redistribute wealth from richest to poorest)
- Represent working class
- Health and unemployment benefits
- Expanded role for the government
- State ownership and control of economy
- Look to the future (idealist)
Some right wing ideas
- Value tradition and authority
- Freedom is more important than equality
- Low taxation (keep your own money)
- Private enterprise and free market
- Less welfare
- Power of government is minimised
- Support middle and upper classes
German parties from far left to far right
KPD (Communist) USPD (Independent socialists) SPD (Social Democratics) Centre DDP (Democratic) DVP (German people's) DNVP (German national people's) NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers)
KPD (Communist Party) information
Ernst Thalman
Working class & ex USPD
Destroy the Republic/capitalism with violence
Oppose the Treaty of Versailles
USPD (Independent socialists) information
Broke away from SPD in 1917
Industrial workers disillusioned with SPD
Against democracy
Oppose Treaty of Versailles
SPD (Social democratic) information
Friedrich Ebert Represent working class Supports democracy Against far left Support social reform Support Treaty of Versailles
Centre party information
Heinrich Bruning and Franz Von Papen
German Catholics
Supports republic
Support Treaty of Versailles
DDP (Democratic) Information
Middle class and business interests
Supports the Republic
Supports social reform
Support the Treaty of Versailles
DVP (German people’s party) information
Gustav Stresemann
Conservative and monarchist
Grows to support the Republic
White collar workers, industrialists and businesses
Against Treaty of Versailles but agree to fulfil it
DNVP (National People’s party) information
Hostile to Republic Want the monarchy to return Conservative Anti-socialist and anti-Semitic Reject Treaty of Versailles Nationalists and want union with Austria
NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers Party) information
Adolf Hitler
Anti-Republic, Anti-Semitic
Strongly nationalist
Main similarities between the old and new Weimar Constitution
- Both can rule without Reichstag in emergency
- Laws need approval of majority of Reichstag deputies
- Head of state can appoint chancellors
Main differences between the old and new Weimar Constitution
- Inherited leader vs elected leader
- Reichstag now can be elected by men and women
- Now introduced more social rights
- Became a federal state
Failure of the voting system
Proportional representation meant the proportion of votes was the same to the seats in the Reichstag, this meant it required many coalitions and weak governments
Failure of Emergency Powers
Article 48 meant the president can give the chancellor powers who can suspend the constitution and rule by decree and suspend all laws for a limited period of time, this was often used too much
Civil rights in the Constitution
Universal suffrage
People could pass laws through plebiscites
Freedom of expression and freedom of assembly were protected
Why did many Germans dislike the new civil rights?
They said how Germany had suddenly become the most radical democracy in Europe
What was the problem with passing laws in the federal system?
The 17 states had their own Lander governments and were responsible for police, education and law, but any laws they passed could be overruled by the Reichstag
Article 48 under President Ebert
Successful, suppressed uprisings by workers in Saxony, Thuringia and the Ruhr. Only time it wasn’t was when the army refused to help with the Kapp Putsch, it was the key to defending the Republic from enemies.
Article 48 under President Hinden
Believed in authority and that parliament was the enemy of a good government. Removed the Democratic state government in Prussia in 1932. Used article 48 44 times in 1931 and 69 times in 1932
Ways the constitution strengthened the Republic
- Germany had an official national army
- Men and women considered equals and adults could vote
- Freedom of speech and to protest
- Ebert used Article 48 to defend the Republic from revolution
