The Kaiser

Cards (44)

  • What was Kaiser Wilhem the II like?
    • Unstable
    • Irascible
    • Stubborn
    • Violent
  • What are the Pros and Cons of autocratic rule?
    Pros: Stability, fast decisions. Cons: No input from citizens, biased decisions, abuse of power.
  • What was the unification of 1871?
    • The states of Prussia were united to become Germany by Otto Bismarck.
  • How long was Kaiser Wilhelm II's reign?
    1888-1918
  • How did the Kaiser respond to the Reichstag?
    He ignored them
  • What kind of power did the Kaiser have?
    Absolute
  • The Kaiser led a militaristic state
  • What were the main goals of the Kaiser?
    1. To become an industrial power
    2. Weltpolitik
    3. A place in the sun
  • How many Germans would have preferred a socialist stastatee?

    1/3
  • How were working conditions?
    Very poor
  • What happened as a result of poor conditions?
    Trade unions were created.
  • What threats were there to the Kaiser's rule?
    • The SPD
    • labor strikes (due to industrialisation)
    • trade unions
  • Who was the Kaiser related to?
    Queen Victoria
  • Which superpower did the Kaiser want to overtake?

    Britian
  • What were the naval laws?
    1898- 7 more ships added to make 19
    1900- Doubled ships to make 38
  • How did people feel about the expansion of the military?
    Annoyed as it was done on borrowed money
  • How did the SPD feel about Germany's financial situation?

    Worried about debt
  • How did WWI affect Germany (during)?
    • Food shortages
    • 10000 workers protest against war (1916)
    • Medicine Shortages
    • Clothing Shortages
  • How did WWI affect Germany (impact)?
    • Come close to collapse
    • Epidemic
    • Famine
    • Loss of hope
    • Kaiser abdicated
    • Revolution
  • What does autocratic mean?
    ruler who has absolute power.
  • Germany was created from different states, they came together despite their differences under Kasier Wilhem II
  • Prussia was the largest state
  • Prussia was very militaristic
  • Prussia had lots of representees that would push laws that work for their state
  • The Kaiser was queen Victoria's grandson
  • The Kaiser really admired the queen
  • In 1913 Germany was producing more steel and coal than Great Britain
  • The Kaiser wanted to be involved in world politics, and have world power: Weltpolitik
  • The Kaiser also wanted an empire in Africa. He felt this would give him status and access to natural resources. He called this a Place in The Sun
  • The Kaiser wanted a large navy. He thought this was important to grow his power and get an empire.
  • The Kaiser's 4 main objectives were:
    • W: Weltpolitik
    • A: A place in the sun
    • I : Industrialisation
    • N: Navy
  • An almost arms race starts between the Germans and the Uk
  • The Kaiser met with representatives from all the states, this was called the bundesrat
  • In the bundesrat only people of wealth and influence attended
  • Due to industrialisation people moved from the country to the cities and started living in cramped and bad conditions
  • The chancellor was Otto Bismark
  • Anyone who was a man over 25 could vote for Reichstag members
  • The Bundesrat and The Reichstag struggled with getting the Kaiser to listen to them
  • The workers had to work 7 days a week
  • Children over 13 had to work