German Imperial Society (distinct groups protecting their interests)
Working Class
Catholics
What?
Harsh factory discipline
low wages
result of rapid industrialisation
poor housing
terrible living conditions
Turned to Socialism
Socialist Workers Party was formed in 1875
name change to SPD in 1890
1940 = biggest + best organised socialist party in Europe
Had most seats in the Reichstag
SPD supporters
loyal
bc SPD offered political representation through:
trade unions
newspapers
cultural organisations
Sports clubs
Middle Class
What?
Diverse
Not well defined
Included
professionals (lawyers, doctors, … )
self employed tradesmen
Politics
Some were critics of the kaiser
Had limited political role and influence
Most accepted Kaiser's rule
Conservatives
Who?
Junkers (ruling class)
Feared revolution
officer corps of the army
industrial tycoons
leaders of the Protestant Church
Attitudes to SPD
hated the SPD
Why
SPD = hostile to capitalism
Their belief in equality threatened their wealth/power
Viewed them as unpatriotic
Who?
Lesser states = Catholic
Catholic: Rhineland, Bavaria, Silesia
Prussian elites = suspicious of Catholics
Felt their loyalties lay with the pope
Distrust = displayed in ‘Kulturkampf’
Prussia = Protestant
What?
retaliate: form the Zentrum political party (united all catholics)
Kulterkampf = abandoned in late 1870s
remain 2nd class citizens
near-to-no catholics in highest ranks of business/finance
Were not supporters of the political system by 1914