Preview

Elenas Diary

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1037 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Elenas Diary
The Second Reich Revision sheet.

1. The Constitution – Position of Chancellor independent to Reichstag. Power structure unclear and confused. 2. Economy – G. Europe’s industrial superpower, built on existing industries and new ones. (new – electrics, chemicals, cars, precision equipment) 3. Labor force – Population growing also change of jobs from agriculture to tertiary sectors. Also G. Best education system for scholors and technical skills. 4. Changing spirit of the age: new ideas – • Socialism (growth of SPD – 110 seats in 1912) • Nationalism - Pan German League: anti-socialist, racist, anti-Semitic and strong supporters of any policy that advanced G power and influence. • Anti-Semitism • Social Darwinism 5. German society – Junkers (determined to keep control) Industrial bourgeoisie, Middle classes (becoming more numerous) mittlestand (Lower m/c – supported r-wing movements) w/c (Mixture of fortunes) 6. Power – Kaiser ‘personal rule’ based authority on the divine right of kings. Boasted never read the constitution. Yet he was not unintelligent. Had a good memory and the political power to direct things. Yet his mood was volatile and not charismatic. – Daily Telegraph affair! Failed to appreciate the changes that were happening in the economy – during the war he played a subordinate role to Hindenburg and Lundendorff. 7. Power – Chancellors. Bulow – Managed Reichstag for a decade. He was a manipulator who wanted to further himself. With the Daily telegraph affair lost support of the Kaiser. Bethmann – Hard working but lacked experience. Chancellors very different but they were the product of the constitution! Reichstag – Was divided in to those that wanted change and those that did not. Yet decline in conservative force combined with growth of SPD meant further division was caused. The Army – Centre of political and social life. Signed an oath of loyalty, conscription
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    To What Extent Was the Considerable Growth of the Nazi Party, Between 1918 and 1933, a Result of Economic Factors?
    • 1662 Words
    • 7 Pages

    To What Extent Was the Considerable Growth of the Nazi Party, Between 1918 and 1933, a Result of Economic Factors?

    The Weimar republic was introduced on the back of Germany’s defeat at WWI, the resignation of Kaiser Wilhelm II and the widely despised signature of the Treaty of Versailles. These conditions led to its collapse in 1933, and also the great rise in popularity for the Nazi party during this period. There is no doubt that a number of economic factors played a crucial role in the collapse of the Weimar republic and the rise of the Nazis, however, numerous other factors also played a part. Some historians consider a lack of effective opposition a major contributing in the expansion of the Nazis. It has also been argued that the appeal of the Nazi party won them many votes. Finally, the impact of other political factors cannot be ignored when considering this issue.…

    • 1662 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To what extent was the effective government of Germany in the years 1919–33 handicapped by the nature of the Weimar Constitution?
    • 999 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To what extent was the effective government of Germany in the years 1919–33 handicapped by the nature of the Weimar Constitution?

    A major flaw in the Weimar constitution was the proportional representation electoral system, which was an attempt to become more democratic. Democracy comes at the price of a strong government as it is usually difficult to form a stable government in a democracy. This can be manifested by the fact that in the mere period of 14 years, there were 21 different governments and 13 chancellors. This shows that the Weimar government lacked stability and strength which would make it almost impossible for the government to be effective and tackle the problems. How could the government solve the difficult troubles that Germany was facing, when they could not even manage to cooperate and unite? Since, proportional representation is one of the fairest electoral systems, it was impossible to form a strong single party government who had a good hold in the Reichstag and only weak coalitions which could not agree upon a decision was formed. Weak coalitions meant ineffective and incompetent governments. On the other hand, it could be said that the Weimar governments were not as unstable as it is claimed to be. The Weimar constitution has produced effective and stable governments such as the grand coalition which was seen as a strong government and it stood for the longest amount of time. Also, despite the numerous changes in government, the base parties of…

    • 999 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To What Extent Was Germany a Parliamentary Democracy?
    • 1155 Words
    • 5 Pages

    To What Extent Was Germany a Parliamentary Democracy?

    Germany was a parliamentary democracy based on the constitution that Germany was run by. The Bundesrat being part of the constitution consisted of 58 members who were elected by the state assemblies, the Bundesrat had the power in theory to the law making process and by this having this possibly the right to alter the constitution. The Bundesrat had the power to veto legislation against a bill, therefore being able to stop such laws that would not be in favour of Germany. As well as this, the Bundesrat and the Reichstag had joint legislative power. The Reichstag was elected members represented by constituencies and were all male over the age of twenty five. One of the most significant points in favour of Germany being a democracy is that Bismark introduced universal male suffrage elections in 1871. This is clearly an example of a parliamentary democracy because it allowed people of all classes to vote; meaning that every layer of society had the opportunity to be represented. However importantly over the Bundesrat the Reichstag was significantly in power of the financial affairs and the banking system of Germany and perhaps most importantly the control the Reichstag had over the defence budget which was vital federal government expenditure. It had grown from being 100 million marks in 1890 to rapidly increasing to 2,405 million marks by 1913. Although the Kaiser did have the right to dissolve the Reichstag they still could hold elections after this. Furthermore the constitution was based on parliamentary democracy to an extent because members were elected into their positions. They held the power of money that…

    • 1155 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    ‘the First World War Increased Rather Than Narrowed Germany’s Political Division’ How Far Do You Agree with This Judgement?
    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages

    ‘the First World War Increased Rather Than Narrowed Germany’s Political Division’ How Far Do You Agree with This Judgement?

    Although initially it seems apparent that the First World War narrowed the existing political divisions in Germany during this period, as the war progressed, the resentment grew, in part because of the huge losses and the economic crisis that hung over the country. Therefore because of this the political divisions increased, and by the end of the war the polarisation of German politics was explicit.…

    • 1058 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Wolsey Justice For All History Revision
    • 591 Words
    • 1 Page

    Wolsey Justice For All History Revision

    How far do Sources 1, 2 and 3 suggest that, in his role as Lord Chancellor,…

    • 591 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To what Extent was Germany a parliamentary democracy in the years 1900
    • 1085 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To what Extent was Germany a parliamentary democracy in the years 1900

    In the period 1900-1914, Germany’s political landscape witnessed extraordinary changes in which typical features associated with a parliamentary democracy- such as significant and influential pressure group activity and universal suffrage- were present. It can however be argued that this period also represented a time in which the German Reichstag did not truly represent the population due to old and corrupt voting system for Prussia which saw votes unfairly given and the role of all the chancellors- in particular Von Bulow- during this time, which saw unelected officials yielding greater influence than that of the Reichstag. Germany was a parliamentary democracy due to the many contrasting features of the political system. Germany may have had many features where a “parliamentary democracy” can be boasted, but there are also just as many contrasting points which expose the system as being corrupt and broken.…

    • 1085 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Does the Kaiser Have Personal Rule in Germany?
    • 820 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Does the Kaiser Have Personal Rule in Germany?

    Wilhelm had an enormous influence over the chancellor’s he chose. Mainly because he believed that they would do as he told and abide by what he said. This control over his chancellor’s allowed him to set the agenda and manipulate them into doing exactly what he wanted. In 1892, Caprivi proposed legislation that would restore some of the church’s privileges over education, effectively reversing an important aspect of the Kulturkampf. However, Wilhelm had no intention of relying on the Centre Party to pass the bill therefore forced the withdrawal of the proposed legislation. The fact Wilhelm had such control over his chancellor’s shows that he had personal rule to an extent as he could basically propose what policies he wanted. If they failed in doing so, they could be easily replaced.…

    • 820 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    To what extent did the constitution ensure that the Kaisers power was preserved?
    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages

    To what extent did the constitution ensure that the Kaisers power was preserved?

    The chancellor was the chief minister of the Reich, the only person who controlled him was the Kaiser with his ability to dismiss state secretaries and anyone else who he didn’t like. He was pretty much dictated entirely by the Kaisers wishes and could also easily be ignored by him. In any case the Kaiser would obviously choose someone who would obey his every order to prevent any questioning of his authority.…

    • 598 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Successful Was Bismark in Political Control in Germany Between 1871-1890 ?
    • 1104 Words
    • 5 Pages

    How Successful Was Bismark in Political Control in Germany Between 1871-1890 ?

    Bismarck was successful in political control over Germany as he had created a new constitution which benefitted and suited his needs as chancellor as he had created an autocratic constitution which revolved around the Kaiser and himself. Bismarck’s success was due to numerous factors such as control over the Reichstag as Bismarck had manipulated the Reichstag so that he would be supported by the party with the majority. Thus proving that Bismarck’s political prowess was a force to be reckoned, with as he successfully and tactically negotiated deals which saw him “jumping into bed with the enemy”, meaning that Bismarck would remain the figurehead for political power ensuring a pre-eminent position for Prussia this is proven as 17/58 representatives in the Bundesrat were Prussian nationals.…

    • 1104 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Second Reich Was Governed by the Personal Rule of the Kaiser.
    • 1105 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Second Reich Was Governed by the Personal Rule of the Kaiser.

    With the ability to dissolve the Reichstag or dismiss the Chancellor at his leisure, it can be seen that the Kaiser holds a lot of power within the Reich. This meant that if any of the ministers within the Reich went against what the Kaiser believed or if the chancellor himself went again the Kaiser, he could simply dismiss the chancellor or dismiss the Reich and remove the opposition all together. This type of personal rule is shown within the daily telegraph affair in which a telegraph showing the Kaiser’s negative views for Britain was sent ahead and caused outrages within Britain. The consequences of this event was that the Kaiser blamed the chancellor for letting the telegraph go ahead without checking to make sure what message was conveyed within it. Ultimately, the Kaiser decided to dismiss the Chancellor (Bulow) and when the Reich had the opportunity to challenge the Kaiser over this dismissal, they did not take it up and this showed just how much control the Kaiser had over the second Reich. This control was shown once again through the Zabern affair, in which soldiers of the German army caused serious outrage when they attacked a disabled man in public and when the population thought that they…

    • 1105 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How democratic was the Second Reich?
    • 966 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How democratic was the Second Reich?

    According to the Second Reich constitution, it is clear that during the years of the Second Reich there was no democracy. The German Electorates could only elect the Reichstag, which had little power. The Reichstag was only able to accept or reject the laws that were proposed by the government and veto treaties agreed by the Kaiser. However, the Kaiser was able to summon and dissolve the Reichstag at any given time. Therefore most of the time the Reichstag would agree with Kaiser, which shows Kaiser Absolutism. This was similar for the Imperial Government. The Chancellor and the Cabinet did the day-to-day running of the Germany. However, at any given time the German Emperor was able to dismiss the Chancellor. Therefore at the end if something was not going according to Kaisers' vision for Germany he has the power to change so.…

    • 966 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Between the years 1900-1913, it was the Kaiser Wilhelm who really controlled German domestics
    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Between the years 1900-1913, it was the Kaiser Wilhelm who really controlled German domestics

    Between the years 1900-1913 the Kaiser' rule became less powerful as the years went on. Although he did still remain I power. On theory of this is the Daily Telegraph Affair in 1908. The Kaiser had slipped a very important statement concerning the foreign policies. As a result he was given an o confidence vote and had to make an apology to the government about his mistake. However the Kaiser still remained in power - showing that he still had an input in how Germany was run but it also shows that the Reichstag had gotten more confident as they are were challenging the Kaiser rule. This theory suggests that the Kaiser was becoming less powerful than he originally was, and between the years 1900-1913 he controlled German politics but to a minimum.…

    • 867 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    Annotated Bibliography: United Nations
    • 399 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Annotated Bibliography: United Nations

    Retrieved October 15, 2013, from http://purbeckhumanities.co.uk/2010/11/17/german.unification-timeline/ Website “German Unification” (2013). Wikipedia. Retrieved October 21, 2013,…

    • 399 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Holocaust on the Western Hemisphere
    • 3069 Words
    • 13 Pages

    Holocaust on the Western Hemisphere

    As the impact of World War One took its toll on Europe countries like Russia, Italy and Germany were in dire need of a change. Germany was most impacted by the war and was left in a state where everyday citizens were homeless, jobless, and starving. Looking for someone save Germany, Germans were in a desperate need for change and turned to group of radicals that were rising in power at a rapid rate known as the Nazis. Looking for someone to “save Germany” the Nazi’s unconventional but radical beliefs gave many Germans a strong sense of hope. “One of the reasons the Nazi ideology was so successful in eliciting support for the party and consensus behind its program was that its structure was built central concepts that, in the…

    • 3069 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    `Hitler Became Chancellor in January 1933 Because He Was Leader of the Most Popular Party in Germany. ` How Far Do You Agree with This Judgement?
    • 1552 Words
    • 7 Pages

    `Hitler Became Chancellor in January 1933 Because He Was Leader of the Most Popular Party in Germany. ` How Far Do You Agree with This Judgement?

    The Nazi party was slowly making its ascent into the whirlwind world of politics; at first glance they appeared to be making no progress, due to this they were paid very little attention. The government’s negligence of the party allowed them to grow gradually and undetected. Although their popularity contributed to Hitler`s appointment as Chancellor, it can be argued that there were more dominant factors that assisted Hitler in his rise to power. The prematurity of the government is often seen as the underlying factor; however some historians argue that the actions of Hindenburg, Von Papen and the desperation gave Hitler the final push in the direction of chancellorship.…

    • 1552 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics