Wilhelm II 1890 to 1914 Flashcards
Who were the Chancellors under Wilhelm II (after Bismarck) and when were they in this role?
Caprivi (1890 to 1894)
Hohenlohe (1894 to 1900)
Bulow (1900 to 1909)
Bethmann-Hollweg (1909 to 1917)
What social reform took place under Caprivi?
Anti-Socialist laws were relaxed
Sunday work was prohibited
Employment of children under 13 was forbidden
Women could not work for longer than 11 hours
Courts were set up to arbitrate in industrial disputes
What was the Tariff Reform that took place under Caprivi?
Tariffs were reduced on agricultural imports in return for favourable rates for German manufactured goods with some countries
What was the Agrarian League?
A far-right pressure group which won widespread support in Prussia for opposing Caprivi’s tariff reform and denouncing him as a socialist
What was the Army Bill that was passed during Caprivi’s time as Chancellor?
Reduced military service from 3 to 2 years (which angered the right)
(A separate bill increased peacetime army strength by 84,000 men, which was only passed once the National Liberals and Conservatives gained support in the 1893 election)
Why did Caprivi fall from power?
Wilhelm II wanted to crush socialism, so he made a plan to increase his powers at the expense of the Reichstag. Caprivi talked him out of this but since Caprivi had lost the Kaiser’s support, he resigned in 1894.
What was the Reactionary Rule?
Strong action taken against political revolutionaries (such as socialism) from 1894 to 1895.
What was Weltpolitik and when was it started?
Started in 1897, Wilhelm II wanted to make Germany a world power on par with Britain.
This meant expanding the navy, creating a large colonial empire, and supporting Germany’s global economic interests.
What was the Navy League?
A nationalist group which supported naval expansion.
Backed by key industrialists and reached 300,000 members.
Pressured the Reichstag to pass a naval bill.
When and what were the 2 naval bills under Hohenlohe?
1st Naval Bill (1898) - Proposed building 16 major ships.
2nd Naval Bill (1900) - Proposed building 3 battleships a year for 6 years.
What was the Hard Labour Bill under Hohenlohe?
Wilhelm II tried to severely increase the punishment for those who were on strike or prevented others from working.
It was rejected by a huge majority, showing how Wilhelm was trying to rule on his own but didn’t always have the power to.
What social reform took place under Bulow?
An extension of Accident Insurance (1900)
Industrial courts were made compulsory in large towns (1901)
Extension of the prohibition of child labour (1903)
What was the Tariff Reform that took place under Bulow?
Tariffs were restored to pre-1892 levels. The SPD won 26 extra seats in 1903 in popular opposition to this reform.
What was the Bulow Bloc?
The Conservatives, Free Conservatives, National Liberals and Left Liberals formed a coalition for the 1907 election.
They campaigned on a nationalistic, anti-socialist message. The SPD lost nearly 50% of its seats.
When and what was the Daily Telegraph Affair?
Wilhelm II was interviewed by the Daily Telegraph, and Bulow was responsible for looking over it and clearing it for publication.
Wilhelm II was severely criticised in the press, and Bulow distanced himself from the views in the article. Wilhelm II lost trust in Bulow.
