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History- Germany > The Kaiserreich 1871-1914: Political > Flashcards

The Kaiserreich 1871-1914: Political Flashcards

1
Q

Who are the 5 chancellors within this time?

A
  1. Otto Von Bismarck (1871-1890)
  2. Caprivi (1890-1894)
  3. Hohenlohe (1894-1900)
  4. Bulow (1900-1909)
  5. Bethmann-Hollweg (1909-1917)
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2
Q

Who were the 2 German leaders within this time?

A
  1. Kaiser Wilhelm I (1871-1888)
  2. Kaiser Wilhelm II (1888-1918)
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3
Q

What power did Kaiser’s have?

A
  1. Could call and dissolve the Reichstag
  2. Had command of the army
  3. Could move chancellor from office
  4. Gave assent to all laws
  5. Had the final say in any dispute over the constitution
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4
Q

What power did Bismarck have as chancellor?

A
  1. Worked with the Kaiser in key decisions
  2. Co ordinated the machinery of the government
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5
Q

Who were the main political parties within Germany?

A
  1. SDP
  2. National Liberals
  3. Centre party
  4. German Conservative party
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6
Q

What was Bismarck’s background?

A
  • Traditional aristocratic junker
  • Conservative views
  • Committed to authoritarianism
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7
Q

What did the new constitution consist of?

A
  1. Kaiser
  2. Government (chancellor and ministers)
  3. Reichstag
  4. Bundesrat
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8
Q

What was the government’s (chancellor/ministers) role in the new constitution?

A
  • Appointed and dismissed by Kaiser
  • Decided outlines of policy with the Kaiser
  • Chancellor gave assent to all laws
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9
Q

What was the Reichstag’s role in the new constitution?

A
  • Gave consent to all laws but couldn’t amend a law
  • Could question, debate, agree, reject a law proposed by the chancellor
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10
Q

What was the Bundesrat’s role in the new constitution?

A
  • Decisions were decided by majority vote
  • Had to approve new laws
  • Could veto all legislation
  • Had to give approval to the Kaiser for a declaration of war
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11
Q

What was Kaiser Wilhelm I and Bismarck’s relationship like?

A
  • Initially had a successful working partnership
  • Both wanted to rule Germany in an authoritarian way
  • Wilhelm became completely dependent on Bismarck and allowed him to govern in his own way
  • Bismarck would get what he wanted by threatening to resign + manipulating Wilhelm
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12
Q

Which party won the 1st German election in 1871and why was this good for Bismarck?

A

National Liberals
They shared Bismarck’s belief in German unity and cooperated with the promotion of economic development and trade

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13
Q

Did Bismarck enjoy working with the Reichstag?

A

No, but he recognised its importance in carrying the country

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14
Q

What were Bismarck and the National Liberals’ moves towards German unification?

A
  1. Establishment of Reichsbank in 1876 (new currency for the whole empire- the mark)
  2. Abolition of tariffs on internal trade between Lander
  3. National postal and telegraph system
  4. A single court system
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15
Q

What were the reasons for Kulturkampf?

A
  1. Catholics represented 37% of German population and had political influence through its own political party (Zentrum)
  2. Zentrum became 2nd largest party in Reichstag in 1871 with 63 deputies
  3. Bismarck feared Zentrum might oppose his aim to strengthen and unify Germany and hoped that an attack on the Catholic church would win him support from protestants in the Reich
  4. Pope declared Catholic Church to be opposed to nationalism and liberalism, so the Zentrum directly opposed the National Liberals (Bismarck’s party)
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16
Q

What were the events of Bismarck’s Kulturkampf?

A
  1. Catholic education came under state supervision
  2. Only those who studied in Germany and passed a state exam could be priests
  3. All Catholic religious orders were dissolved
  4. State financial aid to Catholic Church ended
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17
Q

What was the end of Kulturkampf?

A
  1. Catholics rallied to the cause of the church and support for the Zentrum
  2. Zentrum won 91 seats in 1874 election and were in a position to threaten Bismarck’s ability to win a majority in Reichstag
  3. German protestants expressed unease to Bismarck’s attack on religious freedom and Jewish people within National Liberal party
  4. Expressed concern that his campaign created anti semitism in Germany
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18
Q

What were Bismarck’s reasons for wanting to end Kulturkampf?

A
  1. He favoured a close alliance with catholic Austria and feared his anti catholic policies would stand in the way
  2. Bismarck’s natural allies, the protestant conservatives, had grown increasingly opposed to Kulturkampf as it promoted hostility towards religion (Bismarck couldn’t afford to lose their support)
  3. Bismarck felt that socialism posed a greater threat to Germany
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19
Q

What were the results of Kulturkampf?

A
  1. Relations with the papacy improved
  2. Bismarck was able to make his alliance with Austria in 1879
  3. Zentrum turned into a purely religious party, supporting the empire and strengthening unity
  4. Bismarck was freed from dependence on the National Liberals, so could make the policy changes he wanted to
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20
Q

What was the Central Association of German Manufacturers and when was it created?

A
  • 1878
  • Campaign for the introduction of tariffs on imports in Germany
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21
Q

What were Bismarck’s beliefs on tariffs?

A
  1. They threatened agricultural incomes which would undermine economic positions of Junker aristocracy
  2. Germany shouldn’t be dependent on foreign imports
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22
Q

What was Bismarck’s relationship like with the National Liberals in 1877?

A
  • Bismarck grew increasingly irritated by them
  • NL demanded for more power in the Reichstag
  • In 1874 the NL forced Bismarck to allow the Reichstag to vote for the army budget every 7 years
  • Bismarck created a Press Law that allowed for the prosecution of editors who published material he didn’t approve of, undermining the liberal principle of freedom of press (Conservatives supported it)
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23
Q

Why did Bismarck call an election in 1878?

A
  • To try and deprive the National Liberals of gaining more seats
  • It worked and the NL lost 29 seats
  • Conservatives and Zentrum won with the overall majority
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24
Q

What did Bismarck introduce in 1879 and who was it popular with?

A
  • Legislation to impose tariffs
  • Supported by Conservatives, Zentrum and 15 tariff rebels from National Liberal Party
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25
Q

What were the political results of the changes between 1878-1879?

A
  1. National Liberals split and lost influence
  2. Bismarck was now strongly supported by Conservatives, landowners and big industrialists (was the beginning of an alliance of steel and rye)
  3. Reich became united in its support of protection as Bismarck presented tariffs as a patriotic necessity
  4. Tariffs raised the cost of living for workers, making them more inclined to support socialism
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26
Q

When was the 1st Socialist party created?

A

1875- SPD

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27
Q

What did Bismarck believe about socialism?

A
  • It was a social and political threat to the unity of the German Empire
  • It threatened traditional German society
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28
Q

When was Bismarck’s anti socialist law passed?

A

1878

29
Q

What did the anti socialist law state?

A
  1. Socialist organisations such as trade unions were banned
  2. Socialist meetings were banned
  3. Socialist publications were banned
  4. Police power was increased (they could search houses, arrest on suspicion, break up meetings, censor publications)
  5. Penalties such as fines, imprisonment and hard labour were established
30
Q

What were the positive and negative (for Bismarck) results of the anti socialist laws?

A

Positive:
- Cabinet and civil service were purged in 1880 to remove liberal sympathisers
- Around 15,000 socialist activists were imprisoned and others were exiled
- SPD struggled to find candidates to contest the 1881 elections
Negative:
- SPD broadened its appeal as a non revolutionary party
- Industrial workers increasingly turned to socialism
- Number of people voting for SPD more than doubled between 1878-1890
- Number of seats held by SPD rose from 9 to 35
- SPD membership nearly at 1.5. million

31
Q

What was state socialism?

A
  • Bismarck’s attempt to undermine the appeal of socialists by passing social security legislation to help workers
  • Measures included medical (1883), accident (1884), insurance and old age pensions (1889)
32
Q

What was societies response to state socialism?

A
  • Some workers were enthusiastic
  • Others felt it was a sham
  • Liberals opposed it because the reforms extended the role of the state and threatened individual freedom
33
Q

What did Bismarck do to the national minorities?

A
  • Favoured Germanisation
  • German was made the only language for education and the courts
  • Polish Catholic Cardinal was imprisoned, leaving the Polish without a leader for 12 years
  • Germans encouraged to buy Polish farms to extend German control
  • Bismarck expelled 34,000 Polish and Jewish people who he claimed crossed into Germany from Austria and Russia despite protest by the Reichstag
34
Q

After Kaiser Wilhelm died in 1888 and Kaiser Wilhelm II took over, what was his relationship like with Bismarck?

A
  • Bismarck wanted to control policy making and maintain his position, but Wilhelm II believed in personal rule and wanted to reduce Bismarck’s power
  • Bismarck wanted to repress socialism, but Wilhelm II was sympathetic and believed he could win over industrial workers where Bismarck had failed
  • Bismarck wanted to maintain close relations with Russia, but Wilhelm II favoured Austria
35
Q

What 2 bills did Bismarck put forward in 1890 and how did Kaiser Wilhelm II respond?

A
  1. Increase of 125,000 men in the army
  2. First severe anti socialist law
    - Wilhelm rejected both of them and said that Bismarck had lost touch with reality
36
Q

What was Caprivi’s new course for German politics?

A
  • End anti socialist laws
  • More influence over policy making for ministers
  • Reduction in tariffs
  • Social reforms, reduction in working hours, progressive income tax
37
Q

Who supported Caprivi’s reforms?

A
  • Working class
  • Socialists
  • Industrialists
  • Zentrum
  • Liberals
38
Q

What was Caprivi’s contribution to the military?

A
  1. 1893- Reduced military service from 3 years to 2
  2. Allowed Reichstag to discuss the military budget every 5 years instead of every 7
  3. In return, Reichstag passed a bill to increase army by 84,000 men
39
Q

What was the Schlieffen Plan?

A
  • Created in 1892
  • Military strategy to use in event of 2 front war
  • In order for it to be effective, the army reserve had to be expanded
  • Wilhelm demanded that Caprivi win approval for higher taxes to support this increased military expenditure
40
Q

What was Kaiser Wilhelm II’s relationship with Caprivi like?

A
  • Caprivi found Kaiser difficult to work with
  • Kaiser interfered when Caprivi tried to allow the protestant and Catholic Church to have control over education
  • When socialist made considerable gains in 1893 election, Kaiser decided that an anti socialist subversion bill was needed
41
Q

Why was Hohenlohe selected as the new chancellor?

A

He posed no political threat to those who surrounded the Kaiser

42
Q

What 2 bills did Hohenlohe pass to curb socialist subversion?

A
  1. 1894 Subversion bill
  2. 1899 Anti union bill
43
Q

What was the response to Hohenlohe’s anti socialist bills?

A

Thrown out by the Reichstag due to decreased Conservative representation

44
Q

Why did Hohenlohe resign as chancellor?

A
  • Kaiser began to ignore Hohenlohe and became more interested in Weltpolitik
  • Kaiser and Hohenlohe disagreed over it, giving Hohenlohe a resign to resign
45
Q

What is Weltpolitik?

A

Expansionist foreign policy including colonial expansion and development of the navy

46
Q

Who was the 1st chancellor that Kaiser Wilhelm II really trusted?

A

Bulow

47
Q

What were Bulow’s successes as chancellor?

A
  1. 1902- Introduced a new tariff law to restore duties on agricultural products, increasing the revenue for the developing navy
  2. Introduced a series of social reforms which extended accident and health insurance
  3. Continued the policy of diverting workers attraction to socialism through appealing to their patriotism
  4. 1907- Negotiated a coalition called the ‘Bulow Bloc’ to avoid reliance on the Zentrum, which won a large victory in 1907 election
48
Q

Why were Bulow’s social reforms not actually much of a success?

A

Socialists received credit for them which increased the SPD’s vote in 1903

49
Q

What were Bulow’s failures as chancellor?

A
  1. Introduction of secret ballot in 1904 and establishment of payment for Reichstag deputies 1906 led to repressive action against Polish people and increased anti semitism
  2. When he tried to increase taxes, he was opposed by the SPD and Zentrum
  3. National debt doubled between 1900-1908
  4. Finance bill of 1909 was defeated by Conservatives, Zentrum, Progressive Liberals, Socialists
50
Q

What was Bulow and Kaiser Wilhelm II’s relationship like by 1905?

A
  • Deteriorating
  • Bulow failed to control the Reichstag and win the approval needed for Kaiser’s increased military spending
51
Q

What are some of the reasons why Bulow resigned as chancellor?

A
  1. Scandals about his sexuality
  2. Failed to stop the damaging Daily Telegraph interview
52
Q

Why did Kaiser Wilhelm II and Hollweg initially get on so well?

A
  • Hollweg allowed Kaiser to take personal control over the military and foreign affairs
  • Hollweg was given the impossible task of reconciling a budget deficit with demands for increased military expenditure whilst also putting up with constant demands from the left
53
Q

What were Hollweg’s failures as chancellor?

A
  1. By 1912 elections he had failed to push the patriotism theme and 1/3 Germans voted for the SPD (became largest party in Reichstag)
  2. Meant that SPD and Progressive Liberals now had a left wing majority and Chancellor could no longer win majorities for his policies
54
Q

What happened which made Hollweg no longer chancellor in 1917?

A

Vote of no confidence in 1913

55
Q

What 2 events significantly damaged Kaiser Wilhelm II’s reputation?

A
  1. Daily Telegraph interview
  2. Zabern Affair
56
Q

What was the Daily Telegraph interview?

A
  • Happened in 1908
  • In the interview, Kaiser Wilhelm II claimed all Germans were anti British
  • Chancellor Bulow was given the chance to suppress the publication of the interview, but failed to do so
  • Interview worsened relations with Britain and led to an outbreak of public anger in the German press
  • Reichstag demanded curbs on Kaiser’s activities and forced him to promise to moderate his future conduct
57
Q

What was the Zabern Affair?

A
  • Happened in 1913
  • Kaiser declared his support for the excessive military action in the Zabern Affair
  • Press reports made it appear that Wilhelm II was prepared to allow the military to do what they pleased with no respect for the rule of law
  • Citizens of Zabern protested against army behaviour
  • There was an outcry against militarism in the Reichstag and throughout Germany
  • Kaiser’s association with the military increased the feeling his government didn’t represent the wishes of the people
58
Q

What is the evidence to support German politics becoming polarised in the 1890-1914 period?

A
  • By 1914, Germany had the largest Socialist party in Europe which possessed the largest army
  • Support for the SPD was counterbalanced by support for extreme nationalist and anti semitic groups
    (Polarisation between extremes of left and right wing)
59
Q

When was the General Federation of Trade Unions founded and who by?

A

1890
Carl Legien

60
Q

What did trade unions campaign for?

A
  • Better working conditions
  • Shorter hours
  • More pay
  • Encouraged workers to strike to achieve their aims
61
Q

Which political party did the unions support?

A

SDP

62
Q

How popular had the free trade unions become by 1913?

A
  • Had more than 2.5 million members
  • Became Europe’s largest labour organisation
63
Q

What were the 2 most right wing political parties?

A
  1. German Conservatives
  2. Free Conservatives
64
Q

Who supported the German Conservatives and Free Conservatives and what did they stand for?

A
  • Right wing pressure groups (Pan German League, Agrarian League, Naval League)
  • Called for expansionist foreign policy, acquisition of colonies, increased military spending, high tariffs on foreign imports
65
Q

How could the Pan German league be seen as powerful?

A
  • Opposed all reformist policies
  • Called for SPD suppression
  • Accused Kaiser Wilhelm II’s government of being too moderate
66
Q

What brought Bismarck’s alliance with the National Liberals to the end?

A

Clashes over Press Law, military budget, economic protection, measures to curb socialism

67
Q

What was Bismarck’s relationship like with the Reichstag in 1880?

A
  • Very hostile
  • Bismarck considered setting up an alternative Reich Council which would bypass the Reichstag
  • Scheme was rejected by the imperial Reichstag
68
Q

What happened between Bismarck and the Reichstag from 1886-1887?

A

1886- Bismarck sought the Reichstag’s support for a 10% increase in taxation to finance army growth
1887- Bismarck had the Reichstag dissolved after meeting hostility to this request and contrived a war scare crisis to get the support he needed in the new Reichstag

69
Q

What did Bismarck do in 1890 and how did it impact the next Reichstag election?

A
  • Proposed a new permanent Anti Socialist bill which permitted strong police action
  • Reichstag rejected the bill
  • SPD representation was increased at the election

History- Germany (13 decks)

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