Unification + Kaiser Wilhelm

• Unification of Germany from States

  1871
• Who was Otto Von Bismark

  Led unification of Germany, first chancellor of Germany, former chancellor of Prussia
• What did Prussia take when they defeated france in Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871)

  Alsace-Lorraine (French territory)
• What happened as a result of industrialisation at this time

  Rise in socialism as there was an increase in working class people
• When was Kaiser Wilhelm II crowned

  1890
• What is Weltpolitik and what was its aim

  A German foreign policy that aimed to expand German influence in Europe and give Germany a 'Place in the sun'
• What were the Naval Laws and when did they begin

  Germany introduces 5 laws to strengthen Germany and compete with Britain's navy / 1898
• What did Naval Laws result in

  Britain becoming worried about Germany's growing strength + created tension that would contribute to WW1
• What did the Kaiser do in 1913 and why

  introduced compulsory conscription to increase size of German army and establish more power
• Why were workers unhappy

  low wages, poor working conditions, expensive necessities
• What did working class people do

  Joined trade unions, organised strikes, voted for new Social Democratic Party (SPD) or became communist
• How popular was the SPD

  1 in 3 Germans voted for them at the time
• Why was the rise in socialism a problem for the government/Kaiser

  People were causing problems and demanding that he improve life for them + extremists wanted to overthrow him and completely take his power
• Why did the Kaiser's strengthening of germany become a problem for him

  It costed a lot of money causing Germany to go into debt - they had to borrow money from US
• How did the public feel about WW1

  • people hated it as Britain stopped supply ships reaching Germany - led to shortages of food, clothes etc
  • 1916 - 10,000 workers protested against the War and the government
• What happened in October 1918 and what did it lead to

  • sailors on ships refused to follow orders to attack british ships because they didn't want to fight anymore
  • led to a mutiny which spread to soldiers, workers and other sailors
• How did people take control from the kaiser

  They set up councils in cities like Munich and Hamburg
• When did the Kaiser abdicate (Month and year)

  November 1918
• Who temporarily took the kaiser's place and what political party was he from

  Friedrich Ebert - leader of SPD
• What was the impact of WW1 on the public

  • Allied Naval Blockade stopped supplies into Germany - left many starving
  • deadly flu epidemic swept the country, killed thousands as they were weak from poor diets
  • 2 million troops dead - loss in workforce
• What happened to Germany's economy after WW1

  • By 1918, industrial production was reduced by a third from 1913 levels.
  • 150 million in debt + germany was bankrupt from spending gold reserves on war
  • Inflation increased as a result of the weak German mark so the prices of goods were increasing