Germany - Democracy and Dictatorship

• The Kaiser inherits his position and rules like a king, can appoint and dismiss the Chancellor and can dissolve the Reichstag at any time.
• The Chancellor runs the government and proposes new legislation. However the chancellor does not need the bundesrat or the support of the Reichstag to stay in power.
• The Bundesrat are representatives members from each state in the German Empire. The Bundesrat was more powerful than the reichstag.
• The Reichstag was members elected by the public every three years (and every 5 years after 1888). Members pass or reject legislation handed down by the Bundesrat.
• Kaiser Wilhelm II didn't believe in democracy and disliked working with the Reichstag. He preferred to place his trust in the army, and often relied on military advisors to make his important decisions.
• The Prussian army played an important role in Germany's unification in 1871. Wilhelm II was strongly influenced by its prestige and power, and adopted a system of militarism, meaning strengthening Germanys military and using it to increase Germany's influence.
• Wilhelm II wanted to make Germany a world power.
• Describe Kaisar Wilhelm II's attitude to Socialism

  Wilhelm feared Socialism increasing and feared the SPD wanted a new revolution to overthrow the monarchy and destroy the German class system.
• Explain what socialism is.

  Socialism is when equality is promoted and public ownership of industry.
• Give two ways that the SPD's political views were different from Kaisar Wilhelm II's.

  They wanted to improve working conditions for the working classes and disagreed with the privileges held by the elites like the military and the monarchy.
• How many seats did SPD earn and when?

  1887, they earned 11 seats
• After the first 11 seats what year was it when they earned more?


  1903, they earned 81 seats.
• By what year did the SPD earn the most seats and how many seats?

  1914, 3.3 million seats.
• What was the 'The workers protection act'?

  It was to improve safety in the work place for working class people.
• What is 'Weltpolitik'?


  Expanding Germany's territory and size of nation and army.
• When the war ended in 1918, how was Germany?

  People in Germany were going under severe hardship because the allies set up naval blockades which prevented imports of food and essential goods, many people suffered starvation.
• How was Kaisar Wilhlem at the end of the first war?

  Public opinion turned against him and called for a democracy. Germany's population was war-weary and were tired of fighting and wanted a end to the war. There was a widespread unrest.
• What did some of the Germany navy do for rebellion?

  German Navy rebelled and refused to board there ships in November 1918.
• When did the Kaisar abdicate?

  9th November 1918
• what happened on November 10th?

  All the state leaders that had been appointed by the monarchy left their posts. New revolutionary state governments took over instead. Germany now had the chance to become a democracy.
• What is the 'signing of the armistice'?

  On the 11th November 1918 a ceasefire to end the first world war was agreed. The Allies (Britain, France, and the USA) signed an armistice with Germany.
• The SPD and the USPD

  A temporary national government established. It was called Council of the peoples representatives.
• Kaisar Wilhelm II


  The acted King for Germany, who abdicated on the 9th November 1918.
• Republic


  A country ruled without a Monarch.
• State Goverments 


  Each state had its own government.
• Armistice 


  Britain, France, and America signing to end the war with Germany.
• The council of the Peoples Representatives.

  A government made from the USPD and SPD.
• Kurt Eisner 


  Encouraged a general uprising, which sparked mass strikes in Munich.
• What is the Weimar Republic?

  German Government from 1919 to 1933.
• Who was Friedrich Ebert?

  The first president, with Philip Scheidermann as Chancellor.
• What year did the members of the new Reichstag meet at Weimar for a new constitution for Germany?

  February 1919
• The Weimar consitution

  The president was elected every 7 years.

  Members of the reichstag were elected every 4 years.

  Reichsrat consists of members from each local region.
• What did the Weimar constitution allow for the first time?

  They allowed women to vote.
• What are the weaknesses of the constitution?

  Proportional representation meant that parties with a very small number of votes were guaranteed to get into the reichstag. This made it difficult to make decisions because there was so many parties, and they all had different points of view.
• Who signed the Treaty of Versailles?

  President Ebert
• What is the Treaty of Versailles?

  A peace treaty
• Who decided on the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

  David Lloyd George (Britain), Georges Clemenceau (France) and Woodrow Wilson (USA).
• Why were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles so severe?

  Article 231 of the treaty said that Germany had to take blame for the war.

  They were forced to pay £6.6 billion in reparations payments for the damaged caused by the war. The amount was decided in 1921 but was changed later.
• Why did Ebert agree with the treaty eventually?

  Germany were too weak to fight and risk any more conflict again.
• In what year did Germany begin to suffer?

  1919