Kaiser Wilhelm

• What type of leader was Kaiser Wilhelm?


  He was an autocrat.
• How did Kaiser Wilhelm handle his advisers?


  He chose to ignore them and had the power to veto their advice.
• Who made all the decisions in Kaiser Wilhelm's government?


  Kaiser Wilhelm made all decisions on his own.
• What was one consequence of rapid industrialization in Germany by 1913?


  Germany was producing more iron and steel than Britain.
• Why were trade unions created during Kaiser Wilhelm's reign?


  They were created as a result of poorly treated workers.
• What political movement grew as a problem for Kaiser Wilhelm?


  The growth of socialism.
• What was the name of the political party that represented socialism in Germany?

  The Social Democratic Party.
• Why was the Social Democratic Party a threat to Kaiser Wilhelm's power?


  It represented the growing support for socialism, challenging his authority.
• What type of leader was Kaiser Wilhelm?


  He was an autocrat.
• How did Kaiser Wilhelm handle his advisers?


  He chose to ignore them and had the power to veto their advice.
• What was one of the consequences of Kaiser Wilhelm's autocratic rule?


  He made all decisions on his own.
• What was a significant economic change in Germany by 1913?


  Germany was producing more iron and steel than Britain.
• What led to the creation of trade unions in Germany?

  Trade unions were created as a result of poorly treated workers.
• What political movement grew in Germany during Kaiser Wilhelm's reign?


  The growth of socialism.
• What was the Social Democratic Party's role during Kaiser Wilhelm's rule?


  It was a threat to the Kaiser's power.
• What were the main problems faced by Kaiser Wilhelm during his reign?


  1. The Kaiser was an autocrat:

  • Ignored advisers
  • Made decisions independently

  1. Rapid industrialization and growth of trade unions:

  • By 1913, produced more iron and steel than Britain
  • Trade unions formed due to poor treatment of workers

  1. Growth of socialism:

  • Rise of the Social Democratic Party
  • Threat to the Kaiser's power
• What problems did the Kaiser face up to 1914?

  Industrial unrest and social issues
• Why were factory owners influential during the Kaiser’s rule?

  They were very wealthy and influential
• How did factory workers respond to their challenges under the Kaiser?

  They joined trade unions and organized strikes
• What was the threat to the Kaiser and advisors regarding wealth preservation?

  They wanted to preserve their wealth and influence
• What social movement grew during the Kaiser’s rule?

  Growth of socialism
• What did socialists want to achieve during the Kaiser’s reign?

  To protect workers' rights
• What fraction of votes did the SPD receive?

  ⅓ of the votes
• What did extreme socialists want to do regarding the government?

  They wanted to overthrow the government
• Why did the Kaiser resist redistributing wealth?

  He did not want to reduce his wealth
• What external threats did the Kaiser face?

  Threats from overseas nations
• What was the Weltpolitik policy?

  Expansion of the German empire
• What was the purpose of the Navy Laws introduced during the Kaiser’s rule?

  To increase the size of the German Navy
• How did the introduction of Navy Laws affect Germany's relations with other countries?

  It increased tensions with rival nations
• What was the impact of hyperinflation on the German economy?

  Money became worthless
• What happened to the value of money during hyperinflation?

  It became worth less and less
• How did hyperinflation affect people's savings?

  People lost their savings' value
• What were the social consequences of hyperinflation in Germany?

  Increased poverty and social unrest
• What was the overall effect of hyperinflation on the German economy?

  It caused economic instability