Government and Opposition, 1888-1914
Personality of Kaiser Wilhelm II
Policies and government under Wilhelm II's chancellors
The role of the Reichstag and struggle between autocracy and democracy
The development of parties and political opposition
27 when took throne
Prussian and more liberal
wanted greater control
unpredictable character - nervous, moody petty
1890-1894 - Caprivi
Support
Working class
Socialists
industrialists
Zentrum
Liberals
Opposition
Conservative Prussian landowners
Camarillo (circle of aristocrats.)
Policies
'New Course' for German politics
reduction in tariffs
end to Anti Socialist Law
more influence over policy making for ministers
social reforms - recognition of trade unions, reduction in working hours & progressive income tax
Military
Reduce military service from 3 to 2 years
military budget discussed every 3 years (not 3)
increased army size by 84,000
Relationship to Kaiser
Wilhelm interfered often - e.g bill over protestant and catholic education
Caprivi resigned for a less independently minded Chancellor
1894-1900 - Hohenlohe
Policies
curb socialism
1894 Subversion Bill and 1999 Anti Union Bill thrown out by Reichstag
Sammlungspolitik - Alliance of Steel and Rye. Prompted creation of right wing pressure groups to oppose socialism, such as:
Pan German League
Navy League
Agrarian League
Imperial League Against Social Democracy
Industrialists' League
Army League
Relationship to Kaiser
'puppet' to Kaiser
Kaiser's policies
Weltpolitik
expansionist foreign policy
colonial expansion and development of navy
Each group had influence disproportinate to membership - led by influential elites with wealth and contacts.
disagreements over colonial policy led to resignation
1900-1909 - Bulow
Policies
abandoned anti-socialist aspect of Sammlungspolitik
1902 - new tariff law restored duties on agriculture and key manufactures (appease nationalists.)
Social reforms
extended accident and health insurance
socialist got credit - rise in SPD
Socialist pressure
introduction of secret ballot 1904
payment of Reichstag depuites 1906
Repressive action against Pole, minorities and anti-semitism
Support
1907 - coalition Bulow Bloc = election victory
Conservatives
Agrarian League
Liberals (National Liberals and Progressives
Downfall
strained relations with Kaiser
allegations of homosexuaity
Kaiser Daily Telegraph interview
1909-1917 - Bethmann-Hollweg
Growth in left wing power
introduction of universal male suffrage at 21 years passed 1911
1912 - 1/3 Germans voted SPD = left wing majoirty
Evidence for lack of control over Reichstag
Evidence for control over Reichstag
defeated left wing attempt for three stage voting system of Prussian Landstag
1913 - Reichstag passed large increase in size of army
only due to 'defence tax' = anger from conservatives
vote of no confidence 1913
From 1913 - simply passed imperial decrees without consultion or approval
Argument for autocracy
1871 consitution unchanged
Wilhelm II maintained personal involvement in government
Chancellors forced from office when confidence lost from Kaiser
Bulow Chancellorship = Wilhelm 'peak of personal rule'
dictated policy and controlled all appointments, legislation, diplomatic moves
Argument for democracy
majoirty needed to approve or reject law
gov could only work through system of agreement between Reichstag majority and Kaiser's Ministers
growing socialist vote
Reichstag would have had more power if political parties more unified
Seperation between 'Kaiser's government' and demands of masses
Daily Telegragh Interview 1908
worsened relations will Britain
Kaiser seen as arrogant
Reichstag forced Wilhelm to moderate conduct
Bulow scapegoated = resignation
Zabern Affair 1913
Kaiser declared support of excessive military action in Alsace
made people feel government need not represent wishes of people
Polarisation in Germany
1914 - Germany largest Socialist party in Europe & largest army
support for extreme nationalist and anti-Semitic groups
THE LEFT WING
SPD
Other left wing opposition
THE CENTRE
THE RIGHT WING
Zentrum
Liberals
united in desire to protect Catholic church, but divided on other issues/ mixture of social classes
divisions pronounced after 1890
National Liberals
opposed socialism and favoured expansionist foreign policy
Left Liberals and progressives
seeking reform and extension of Reichstag power
German Conservatives & Free Conservatives
right wing pressure groups
anti socialist, anti democratic, support Kaiser's policies
Pan German League, Agrarian League, Naval League
expansionist foreign policy
acquisition of colonies
increased military spending
high tariffs on foreign imports
direct influence on policy making - opposed all reformist policies
Grew phenomenally
increase membership of skilled workers
Party conferences in Halle (1890) and Erfurt (1891) well attended
Policies
abolition of class rule
equal rights
use of income tax, property tax, and income tax
Moderate values
August Bebel - 'gradual socialism'
did not exploit telegraph interview, Zaburn Affair, military bills
Tradition Marxists
Karl Liebknecnht and Rosa Luxemburg
made it harder for other parties ti support them
1890 - General Federation of trade unions
better working conditions
shorter hours
more pay
encouraged workers to strike to meet their aims
Free trade unions
2.5 million members 1913
Europe's largest labour organisation
further 3.3 million trade unionists in other associations, such as Christian trade unions, by 1914