2.1 Kaiser Wilhelm II and the difficulties of ruling Germany

• Who reigned briefly after Wilhelm I died in 1888?

  Friedrich III
• At what age did Wilhelm II become Kaiser?

  29
• The growth of the socialist movement in the late 1880s posed a challenge to Wilhelm II's authority
• Wilhelm II addressed growing inequality and labor unrest effectively during his reign.

  False
• What type of decision-making did Wilhelm II adopt?

  Centralized and autocratic
• Wilhelm II trusted experts and advisors when making decisions.

  False
• What political challenge did Wilhelm II face immediately upon becoming Kaiser?

  Succession crisis
• Wilhelm II's foreign policy aimed to increase Germany's global influence
• What were two key results of Germany's industrialization and urbanization under Wilhelm II?

  Social inequality, labor unrest
• Wilhelm II's domineering and impulsive personality created challenges in governing Germany.


  True
• Germany's rapid industrialization led to growing social inequality and labor unrest
• Wilhelm II became Kaiser at the age of 29.

  True
• Wilhelm II's decision-making style was centralized and autocratic
• Wilhelm II's political challenges included balancing alliances and avoiding international conflicts.

  True
• Wilhelm II faced a succession crisis upon becoming Kaiser, creating political instability.


  True
• Wilhelm II pursued an aggressive foreign policy to increase Germany's global influence.
• Wilhelm II's leadership style contributed to growing social tensions due to his reluctance to enact necessary reforms.


  True
• Sequence the consequences of Wilhelm II's foreign policy:

  1️⃣ Heightened international rivalries

  2️⃣ Diplomatic isolation of Germany

  3️⃣ Outbreak of World War I
• Wilhelm II's leadership style ultimately contributed to the collapse of his rule.


  True
• Wilhelm I died in 1888
• Industrialization and urbanization led to social inequality and labor unrest in Germany during the late 1880s.


  True
• Who was Kaiser Wilhelm II's predecessor as German Emperor?

  Friedrich III
• Wilhelm II's personality was characterized as strong-willed, impulsive, and prone to rash decisions
• Match the aspect of Wilhelm II's leadership with its description:

  Decision-making ↔️ Centralized and autocratic

  Communication ↔️ Bombastic and dramatic

  Foreign Policy ↔️ Aggressive and expansionist
• Wilhelm II's domineering and impulsive personality created challenges in managing Germany's domestic and international issues
• Wilhelm II addressed social inequality and labor unrest promptly through reforms.

  False
• What was the primary political challenge related to industrialization and urbanization during Wilhelm II's reign?

  Social inequality
• Wilhelm II's foreign policy was characterized as aggressive and expansionist
• What type of political crisis did Wilhelm II face upon becoming Kaiser?

  Succession crisis
• Chronological order of key events during Wilhelm II's reign:

  1️⃣ Wilhelm I dies; Friedrich III reigns briefly

  2️⃣ Wilhelm II becomes Kaiser

  3️⃣ Industrialization and urbanization accelerate

  4️⃣ Growth of the socialist movement

  5️⃣ Foreign policy expansion aims
• Describe Wilhelm II's personality in three words.

  Strong-willed, impulsive, ambitious
• Match the leadership aspect with its description:

  Decision-making ↔️ Centralized and autocratic

  Communication ↔️ Bombastic and dramatic

  Foreign Policy ↔️ Aggressive and expansionist

  Relationship with Advisors ↔️ Distrustful of experts
• What type of reforms did Germany's social inequality and labor unrest under Wilhelm II require?

  Social reforms
• Wilhelm II's domineering and impulsive personality created challenges in governing Germany effectively.
• What were the primary consequences of Germany's industrialization and urbanization under Wilhelm II?

  Social inequality and labor unrest
• Match the economic and social issue with its description during Wilhelm II's reign:

  Social Inequality ↔️ Growing wealth disparities

  Labor Unrest ↔️ Poor working conditions and low wages

  Need for Reform ↔️ Slow implementation of worker protections
• What was Wilhelm II's main aim in foreign policy?

  Expand Germany's colonial empire
• Wilhelm II's distrust of experts and prone to rash decisions exacerbated political and economic challenges.