Second Reich developments

Question 1

Economic growth

Answer 1

Economy expanded by 4.5% per year 1890-1914
Coal and iron production double
Germany’s share of world trade equal to britains 1914
German steel production exceeded britains 1900

Question 2

New industries

Answer 2

Daimler and diesel
Aeg and Siemens
1913 Germany produced around 50% of the worlds electrical businesses
Synthetic dyes and pharmaceuticals

Question 3

Industrial economy

Answer 3

Growing working class
GNP ride from 33% to 42%

Question 4

Improved transport

Answer 4

Trains, tramways and trolley buses

Question 5

Urbanisation

Answer 5

Population boom
1910 60% of population lived in urban areas
Hamburg and Munich exceed half a mill 1910
Berlin 2 million
Overcrowding and homelessness

Question 6

Poor standards of living

Answer 6

Created a boom in trade unions- 3 million 1913

Question 7

Class tensions

Answer 7

Working class in conflict with industry owners over pay and conditions at work
Junkers were dominant in society
Owners of industry worried about socialism
Mittelstand found their living standard threatened by new industries

Question 8

Developments from the left

Answer 8

Growing working class led to expansion of left wing
SPD saw their support increase
1912 28% of vote

Question 9

Developments from the right

Answer 9

Rise in nationalist politics with elements in the German Conservative party (DKP)
pressure groups sought to protect social elite from free market and to promote nationalism