weimar germany - establishing democracy 1918-1923

what was the second reich?

the unified german state that was established following Prussia’s victory in the Franco-Prussian war

when was the franco-prussian war

1870-1871

what did this mean for the german speaking states after the war?

they were united around a common political and military system with a Kaiser

what is a kaiser

the prussian king, or emperor

before 1918, what did the kaiser have

almost total power

who was the dominant prussian politician at the time

Otto von Bismarck

what did he do

created a constitution (preserved the interests of the prussian ruling elite whilst allowing democracy) → popular

who was the chancellor 

the leading minister in the country, responsible for presenting legislation to parliament 

who did the kaiser tend to appoint important positions to 

prussian junkers → rich and wealthy landowners 

what was the reichstag

parliament. it is also the democratic element of the consitution

who had the vote in the early 1900s

All men over the age of 25

Who had the majority of control over the Reichstag

The kaiser

What is one way the kaiser had more power over government

He had the support of the army → swore an oath of loyalty to him, not the government

What were army men's positions in society like

Privileged, well respected, supported by kaiser, however faced criticism from the Reichstag

Now many states was imperial Germany made up of?

25

What did this mean for the constitution?

It was federal → each state had its own rulers and parliaments, so had power to pass their own laws

Evidence Germany was divided at this stage? (4)

• Men over 25 could vote, but wealthy tax-payers votes counted for more

• Big divide between wealthy junkers and the poorer working class

• Some religious and ethnic groups were not accepted e.g. Polish, gypsies

• Political divisions, wealthy want conservative DNVP, working class want socialist SPD

Evidence Germany was unified at this stage? (2)

• Germans were nationalistic and thought Germany should be the most powerful country in the world- Weltpolitik

• proud cultural tradition, e.g. Beethoven, Wagner, Kant

What was the most powerful geman state?

Prussia, home to capital City Berlin

Was the church important in gemany before 1918?

Very important in rural areas - Catholicism and Protestantism were very influential

What was weltpolitik?

An aggressive foreign policy scheme created by the kaiser Wilhelm II in the 1890s, with the plan to develop an overseas empire

What is burgfrieden?

A phrase used in 1914 to express peace amongst the German nation + support for its people

What is a trade union

An organisation which protects the interests of people working in a trade