Section 1

• Who was the head of state in Britain during the time of the Great Powers?

  Queen Victoria
• What was the role of the head of state in Britain?

  It was a symbolic role creating the illusion of power
• Who was the head of government in Britain at the time?

  Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury
• How were elections conducted in Britain?

  A person was voted by constituents as their MP, and the party with the most MPs became the ruling party
• What was the voting eligibility in Britain during this period?

  Only men over 30 could vote
• What percentage of males in Britain were represented by the voting eligibility?

  60%
• Who was the head of state in Germany?

  Kaiser Wilhelm II
• What was the head of government in Germany?

  Chancellor
• Who was the Chancellor of Germany until 1888?

  Otto von Bismarck
• What significant achievement did Bismarck accomplish?

  He achieved the unification of a Greater Germany
• What was Bismarck's goal after unifying Germany?

  To sue for peace and strengthen relations with defeated countries
• What foreign policy did Kaiser Wilhelm II prefer?

  An aggressive foreign policy
• Who was responsible for foreign policy in Germany?

  The Kaiser
• What was the relationship between the Kaiser and the Chancellor?

  The Kaiser appointed a Chancellor he could control
• By 1900, what was the extent of the Kaiser’s control in Germany?

  The Kaiser was dictating policy, legislation, diplomatic moves, and controlling all appointments
• What was the status of high-ranking military officials in Germany?

  They had a high status due to the military nature of Germany
• Who was the head of state in France?

  President Adolphe Thiers
• How many different prime ministers did France have in the 1890s?

  10 different prime ministers
• What was the state of the French government in the 1890s?

  The government was unstable
• What comprised the French National Assembly?

  The Senate and Chamber of Deputies
• How long did 1/3 of the Senate in France remain in office?

  For life
• How were the remaining 2/3 of the Senate elected in France?

  Elected every 9 years by the electoral college
• Who were the heads of state in Russia during this period?

  The Russian Tsars: Alexander II, Alexander III, and Nicholas II
• What was the political structure in Russia under the Tsars?

  Russia was entirely under Tsar rule with no parliament
• What powers did the Tsar have in Russia?

  The Tsar could appoint and dismiss all ministers and controlled all legislation
• What was the state of opposition groups in Russia by the end of the 1800s?

  There were many opposition groups, but they had no political influence
• Who was the head of state in Austria-Hungary?


  Emperor Franz Josef
• What was the political structure of Austria-Hungary?

  Each of Austria and Hungary had their own parliaments headed by a Minister-President
• What power did the Emperor of Austria-Hungary have?

  The Emperor could declare war and appoint or dismiss ministers
• How was the Austrian government structured?

  The Imperial Council was divided into the House of Lords and House of Deputies
• How was the Hungarian government structured?

  The Diet was divided into the House of Magnates and House of Representatives
• What were the key components for a successful economy according to the Great Powers?

  Plenty of raw material, strong population growth, and efficient methods of production
• What contributed to the erosion of Britain's economic supremacy by 1900?

  Inability to compete with larger workforces and better access to raw materials of Germany and the US
• What industries did Britain fail to develop by 1900?

  New and technologically advanced industries like automobiles and chemicals
• What economic issues did Britain face in the 1890s?

  Increased unemployment and a series of strikes affecting industrial production
• What significant event occurred in Germany in 1871?

  The unification of Germany
• What were the benefits of the unification of Germany?

  Raw materials could be shared, goods transported easily, and a common currency was established
• What percentage of the working population was employed in industry in Germany?

  60%
• What did the new colonies gained by Germany in the 1880s and 1890s provide?

  Access to new raw materials and markets
• What economic policy did Bismarck introduce in 1878?

  Tariffs for protectionism