Nature of the Weimar Republic

What it was and Key features

What was the Weimar Republic?

Germanys first democracy, which governed from 1919 to 1933

Why was the Weimar republic created?

It replaced the German monarchy after Kiaser Wilhelm II abdictated following Germanys defeat in WW1

Why was it called the Weimar Republic?

The new constitution was created in the city of Weimar because Berlin was experiencing political unrest

Who was the first President of the Weimar Republic

Friedrich Elbert, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD)

What was the Weimar Constitution?

The democratic constitution introduced in 1919 that established how the new republic would be governed.

Who could vote under the Weimar Constitution

All german men and women over the age of 20 through universal suffrage.

What was proportional representation, and what were its effects?

Political parties recieved seats in the Reichstag roughly in proportion to their share of the vote. This represented a wide range of political viewss, but also allowed many small and extremist parties into parliament. As a result, no single part usually held a majority, so unstable coalition goverments had to be formed

How did Germanys federal system opertate?

Germnay consisted of 18 states, each with its own state government and some control over local matters, such as education and policing. The states were represented nationally in the Reichstrat, while the central government controlled national matters.

What was article 48, and why was it significant?

Article 48 allowed the president to issue emergency decrees and temporarily suspend civil rights during a serious without prior Reichstag approval. It was intended to protect germany during emergencies, but it weakened democracy by allowing the president to bypass parliament. It was increasingly used after 1930 and was later exploited by hitler to establish his dictatorship