Kaiser Wilhelm II – 1890-1914

What was Prussia? When was it and how did it lead the unification of Germany? (4)

Before 1971 (1) present day Germany was made of many states and Prussia was the strongest and largest of these. (1)
In 1870-71, Prussia defeated France in a short war (1) and then united the separate states into the 2nd German Reich (empire) (1).

What were the main industrial areas of Germany? Why? (3)

The Ruhr, Saar, and Silesia (1) were rich in coal and iron ore, (1) which contributed to the country’s industrialisation in the late 19th and early 20th century. Other regions (like Alsace) were also rich in sodium and potassium. (1)

What is militarism? (1) What can it include? (4)

A belief or policy that emphasises the importance of military power and keeping a strong army, navy, or other armed forces. (1)
It can include glorifying the military, prioritising military spending, military influence on politics, and readiness for war (lack of diplomacy) (4)

What were the four positions in the German system of power which included the Kaiser? How did the hierarchy work? (8)

Kaiser – commander of the military and navy, head of state, controlled foreign policy, appointed and dismissed the chancellor (2)

Chancellor – appointed or dismissed by the Kaiser, Chief minister who advised the Kaiser, ran the government on the Kaiser’s behalf, did not answer to the Reichstag (2)

Bundesrat – made up of representatives from each German state, could block decisions made by the Reichstag, advised the Kaiser (2)

Reichstag – parliament elected by men over 25, debated and voted on laws drawn up by the Kaiser + ministers, voted on the budget, couldn’t remove the Chancellor or overrule the Kaiser (2)

What is industrialisation? (1)

a period of social and economic change that transforms a human group from an agricultural society focused on farming to an industrial society

What does SPD stand for?

Social Democratic Party (SPD because it lines up in German)

How did the SPD first rise and when? (2)

Migration to cities led to overcrowding in housing and poor sanitisation as well as poor working conditions. This led to the rise of a new working class party – the SPD (1)
By 1912, SPD had become the largest political party in the Reichstag (1)

When did industrialisation start in Germany?

1850

How did industrialisation change Germany? (Any 5)

• New jobs in factories, mining, and industry

• Rapid growth in steel and coal – by 1912, Germany was producing more steel than Britain

• Became a world-leading industrial nation by 1914

• German credit banks took risks and supported new entrepreneurs, growing the country’s overall wealth

• Transition to 20th century – world leader in tech + science advancements

• Large advances in the chemical industry (had 350 scientists in 1908 vs 30 in Britain)

• Became a prestigious place to study (more education meant more awareness of rights…)

• By 1911, there were 65M inhabitants of Germany while France had 60M

• Growth in urban proleteriat

What is the proleteriat?

The working class

What did the Kaiser do to support militarism? (4)

• Abandoned treaties with other European countries (made UK potential enemy instead of ally)

• Sacked Otto von Bismark, who had kept Germany out of wars since 1971 (represented rejection of diplomacy)

• Prioritised army expansion (heightened international tensions)

• Increased production on the Navy (trying to rival the British Navy)

What is socialism?

the belief that wealth and power should be shared equally among the people

What were the SPD’s general aims and beliefs? Support? (pre 1914) (3)

For the Kaiser to allow the Reichstag to make more social reforms/laws to improve workers’ rights and condition. (1) They disagreed with the power and privileged position held by land and factory owners. (1)

Around one in three Germans voted for SPD by 1912 (1)

What problems did the SPD face despite their dominance of the Reichstag? What did the general public do in relation to this? (2)

The system of power meant they could be vetoed by higher-ups at any time. (1)

Trade unions were formed in the hope of forcing the government to improve pay and working conditions – 3M had joined by 1914 (2)

What is foreign policy?

A plan for how a country is going to relate/engage with other countries

What was Weltpolitik?

Kaiser Wilhelm II’s foreign policy from the 1890s. Means ‘world politics’

What were the four aims of Weltpolitik? (8)

To make Germany a world power, taken seriously like Britain and France (2)

To expand Germany’s empire – having colonies in Asia and Africa was seen as a way to gain raw materials and markets (2)

To promote national pride, uniting Germans behind the Kaiser by promoting patriotism (2)

To strengthen the navy as it was vital to protect colonies and trade as well as challenging Britain’s dominance at sea (2)

What were the consequences of Weltpolitik? (3)

Led to the Navy laws; caused tension in Europe; increased costs + debts which angered some political parties like the SPD

Who designed the building program behind the Navy laws?

Admiral von Tirpitz

How many navy laws were there and when?

1898, 1900, 1906, 1908, 1912

What were the consequences of the Navy laws domestically? (4)

• appealed to industrialists who got lucrative contracts to build ships

• imperialist hopes for a new country (boosted nationalism)

• extremists saw it as the first steps to world power

• it was very expensive but the government couldn’t tax individuals, so the country fell into debt

How did the Navy laws have an effect internationally?

Britain felt threatened and general tensions grew around Europe before WW1. It led to a naval arms race