Kaiser Wilhelm II

• When was Germany unified as a nation?

  In 1871
• Which state became the ruler of Germany after unification?

  Prussia
• What title was given to the ruler of Germany?

  Kaiser
• Who advised the Kaiser in the German government structure?

  The Chancellor and ministers
• What was the Bundesrat composed of?


  Representatives from each state
• Who elected the Reichstag parliament?

  Men over 25
• What powers did the Kaiser have regarding government advice?

  The Kaiser could ignore government advice and make his own decisions
• What types of decisions did the Kaiser make independently?

  Military and foreign policy decisions
• Who was Kaiser Wilhelm II?


  The ruler of Germany during this period
• What was significant about Kaiser Wilhelm II's youth?

  He spent most of it in the army
• What belief was important to Prussia regarding military?

  Militarism, the belief that a country should have strong armed forces
• What was Kaiser Wilhelm II's goal for Germany?

  To make Germany a global power with an empire to rival Britain's
• What was the term used for Germany's world policy?

  Weltpolitik
• By 1914, how much of Europe's steel was produced by Germany?

  Two-thirds
• What industries dominated Europe by 1914?

  Electrical goods and chemicals
• What was a significant social issue in Germany during this period?

  Workers were unhappy with low wages and poor working conditions
• What action did workers take to improve their conditions?

  They joined trade unions and organized strikes
• How many workers had joined trade unions by 1914?

  Over three million
• What was the Social Democratic Party's belief?

  Power and wealth should be shared equally among the people
• What did the Social Democratic Party hope to achieve from the Kaiser?

  More social reforms or laws to improve workers' rights and conditions
• What did the Social Democratic Party disagree with?

  The power and privileged position held by land and factory owners
• What proportion of Germans voted for the Social Democratic Party at this time?

  Around one in three Germans
• When did Germany begin to industrialize?

  In the 1800s
• Who supported the industrialization in Germany?


  Powerful German businessmen
• What did some socialists want to achieve through their actions?

  To rebel against the Kaiser and start a revolution
• What did the extreme socialists want for cities and towns?

  To be governed by councils of workers
• What was the main goal of the Social Democratic Party?

  To improve workers' rights and conditions
• What years did the series of Navy Laws take place in Germany?

  Between 1898 and 1912
• What was the primary purpose of the Navy Laws introduced in Germany?

  To rapidly increase the size of the navy and army
• Why did the Kaiser want a large navy?


  To help take over more countries and protect those in the German Empire
• How did Germany finance the expansion of its navy and army?

  By increasing taxes and borrowing money
• What was the long-term financial consequence of the Navy Laws for Germany?

  Germany remained in debt for a very long time
• What was the political context of Germany's Kaiser during the Navy Laws period?

  • The Kaiser was extremely powerful and could make his own decisions.
  • Germany's economy expanded as it industrialized.
  • By 1914, Germany was a world economic power.
• What was the condition of the working class in Germany during industrialization?

  Their pay and conditions were poor
• Which political party became popular with workers in Germany during this time?

  The Social Democratic Party (SPD)
• What did the Social Democratic Party (SPD) advocate for?

  Social reforms to improve workers' rights and conditions
• Who was made Secretary of State of the Navy in Germany in 1897?

  Admiral von Tirpitz
• What was the significance of the First Naval Law in 1898?

  It agreed that seven more battleships would be built over the next three years
• What did the Second Naval Law in 1900 accomplish?

  It doubled the size of the German navy, bringing the total to 38 battleships
• How did naval expansion affect Germany's government finances?

  It significantly increased government debt and led to increased taxes