In Germany prior and during the 1900’s Kaiser Wilhelm II held the power of most political matters meaning it was hard for democracy to rise in German parliament. However during this period the rise of the SPD showed that a change in parliamentary democracy was occurring, it can also be shown through the increase of Reichstag elections meaning that German citizens were finally taking advantage of their right to freedom of expression. Significantly, the change was also limited due to the entrenched autocracy in Germany at this time. An important factor to consider in the growing parliamentary democracy was that all men over the age of 25 had the right of universal suffrage, giving Germany a broader franchise than Britain until 1918. This allowed men from all classes to vote rather than the richer classes having the majority of voters meaning that Germany was starting to become well represented in parliament.
INTRODUCTION The Weimar Republic ran from the Kaiser’s abdication in November 1918 through to the selection of Adolf Hitler as Chancellor in January 1933. The system was highly democratic in that all adults, including women, elected members of the Reichstag. The Weimar Republic had several successes in social issues and did well to survive a number of major economic and political crises. However, it never succeeded in gaining enough legitimacy in the eyes of the German people and the Great Depression brought this issue to a head. POLITICAL Successes: Creating a democracy out of the ashes of defeat and the threat of Revolution in 1918/19 Creating a modern democratic constitution with explicit freedoms, PR, female suffrage and an elected Presidency.
The Kaiser of Germany, who was the King of Prussia, could be the main reason why Germany was conceived as an authoritarian monarchy, due to the Kaiser having such a powerful constitutional position that no-one could challenge him. Kaiser Wilhelm II was not elected as Emperor of Germany but was automatically selected which instantly shows signs of an authoritarian state, rather than a democratic one. On top of this Wilhelm II had the power to appoint to and dismiss the Chancellor; which he exercised 5 times including on Bismark (1890) and Bulow (1909) these did show signs of power from the Kaiser but also a weakness in the structure of Germany as the Kaiser was not able to choose a Chancellor that would provide leadership and loyalty to him. The Kaiser was also given the power direct Germany’s foreign policy and command all armed forces in peace and war which does show incredible amounts of dictatorship like qualities. However, it could be argued that because Germany was so widespread with many class divisions it was almost an impossible task for Kaiser Wilhelm to please everyone causing groups like the ‘middelstand’ to join
Bismarck made Prussia the strongest state in Germany politically as well as what was already understood; their economic and military dominance. Also in 1871, the Constitution of the German Empire was introduced, this brought in the basic laws for the German Empire it was based on the constitution of the North German Confederation. A German citizenship was created, with equal treatment of citizens within each state guaranteed which would surely encourage greater German national identity upon the people in the Empire. Bismarck also introduced universal manhood suffrage which was a very liberal introduction which allowed every man in Germany to vote above a certain age, this also allowed Jews, Catholics, Poles and other Reichsfeinde (part of the Kulturkampf policy that Bismarck brought in which largely hindered the strength of himself as it caused the Catholic Centre Party to strengthen) to vote which could weaken the strength of Germany as it allows the enemies of the state to choose whether or not they want the government ran how it was. This could be argued whether universal manhood suffrage did encourage greater German national identity because it could also be seen to weaken
The president was still a very powerful figure; he could block new laws by calling a referendum and could rule without the Reichstag in times of emergency (Article 48). In the right hands, Article 48 could work to Germany’s advantage by ensuring a swift response to a crisis like a war. The president, like before, could still appoint his ministers and chancellor. The Reich cabinet and chancellor, were under Article 54 of the constitution accountable to the Reichstag and had to resign if they lost the Reichstag’s confidence. The New parliament set up was to be made up of 2 houses; The Reichsrat and the Reichstag.
Teaching his self the practice of law, he earned the nick name “Honest Abe”. Regardless, he broke the laws, to keep his promise of protecting and keeping the union together. Also, making sure that families do not have to invite the ones obtruding into their home. Abe, was first to craft an amendment which makes everyone get their freedom. Abraham Lincoln is so influential, that everyone in civics one, are choosing him for this essay.
However structuralists have argued that mass political movements in Germany were on the rise and did in fact influence politics. The power the Kaiser has was overwhelming because he didnt have to answer to neither the reichstag or the bundesrat, he ultimately has complete utter control over domestic and foreign policy. This would suggest that Wilhelmine Germany was an authoritarian state under the kaisers rule, but many historians such as Wehler suggested his own version of the argument which states that Wilhelmine Germany was in fact shaped by the elites (junkers) and the army which simply controlled the Kaiser from the shadows. In this essay i will discuss these interpretations offering the view that Wilhelmine Germany was an 'authoritarian' state under the rule of elites and ultimately the kaiser. Kaiser Wilhem II was an unpredictable, intelligent man with a poor judgement, hardly the kind of person you would give almost unchallenged political powers.
Thirdly, the parliament was elected by universal male suffrage and secret ballot. Bismarck was successful with this aims to a considerately personal level. Bismarck who was Chancellor, could only be dismissed by the Emperor and even though the Kaiser could
Wilson stated, “No people must be forced under sovereignty under it does not wish to live. (Wilson, p. 71)” However, for Wilson’s plan to work scores of Germans in Prussia and in the West had to be displaced. Even though some areas were given plebiscites, he still had forced his vision on them. The creation of Yugoslavia out of many small ethnic states created a potential powder keg. As well, the only way that the Wilson plan would have survived the political intrigue of the Europeans was either through a league that had real teeth, or a super power willing to intervene as a worldwide police officer.
Democratic Republicans all in all wanted things to remain the same in the U.S government because they felt that giving more power to the national government by way of national bank or tax would slowly get rid of the people’s voice in politics creating a rerun of the previous outcome with Great Britain. Both party’s with opposite beliefs going back and forth has followed the U.S since this time in history it is safe to say that the First Party System left behind a legacy of feuding in government politics. When it comes to decision