The Political Structures of the Great Powers

• Britain:

  • Head of state: Queen Victoria, symbolic role creating the illusion of power
  • Head of government: Prime Minister, Robert Gscoyne-Cesil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury at the time
  • Elections saw a person voted by constituents as their MP and the party with the most MPs became the ruling party
  • Only men over 30 could vote, representing 60% of males in Britain
• Germany:

  • Head of state: Kaiser Wilhelm II
  • Head of government: Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck until Wilhelm II dismissed him in 1888
  • Bismarck achieved the unification of Greater Germany and wanted to sue for peace and strengthen relations
  • Kaiser Wilhelm II wanted an aggressive foreign policy
  • Kaiser responsible for foreign policy and appointed the chancellor
  • By 1900, the Kaiser was dictating policy, legislation, diplomatic moves, and controlling all appointments
  • High-ranking military officials had a high status due to the military nature of Germany
• France:

  • Head of state: President, Adolphe Thiers
  • Head of government: Prime Minister, France had 10 different prime ministers in the 1890s, unstable government
  • French National Assembly made up of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies voting on laws and budgets
  • 1/3 of the senate remained in office for life, the remaining 2/3 elected every 9 years by the electoral college
• Russia:

  • Head of state: The Russian Tsars - Alexander II (1818-81), Alexander III (1845-94), Nicholas II (1868-1918)
  • Russia entirely under Tsar rule with no parliament, all ministers appointed and dismissed by the monarch
  • Monarch controlled all legislation
  • Many opposition groups to the Tsars by the end of the 1800s, often using violent methods due to lack of political influence
• Austria-Hungary:

  • Head of state: Emperor Franz Josef
  • Head of government: Each of Austria and Hungary had their own parliaments headed by a Minister-President (Prime Minister)
  • Emperor could declare war and appoint/dismiss ministers
  • Minister-President owed their position to the emperor, no political reform entertained
  • Austrian government, the Imperial Council, divided into House of Lords and House of Deputies
  • Hungarian Government, the Diet, divided into House of Magnets and House of Representatives