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The Kaiserreich 1888-1914: Government opposition - Coggle Diagram
The Kaiserreich 1888-1914: Government opposition
Parties and political opposition
The right wing: Presented anti-socialist and anti-democratic views. Generally supported the Kaiser and relied on the National Liberals to back them up.
The left wing: The SDP grew largely in 1890, after the end to anti socialist laws. The party started to slowly become more moderate in outlook, but still kept some Marxist views. Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg were key figures.
The SPD lost many votes in the 1907 election (Hottentol election) but then grew rapidly and became the largest party in 1912 with 110 seats.
Wilhelm 2's chancellors:
Hohenlohe:
1894-1900, had little political experience, posed no threat to the Kaiser, his ideas etc were ignored by the Reichstag. He resigned after an argument with the Kaiser
Bulow:
1900-1909, the first chancellor the Kaiser actually trusted. He was nicknamed the eel. Abandoned anti socialist idea of Sammunglungspolitik. In the wake of a series of scandals including the Daily Mail incident, he resigned.
Count von Caprivi:
1890-1894, he initiated the end to anti socialist laws, more influence over policy making for ministers, a reduction in tariffs, and social reforms. He found it hard to work with the Kaiser which lead to his resignation
Bethmann-Hollweg:
1909-1917, failed to create a relationship with Britain, failed to create a patriotic Germany,
Role of the Reichstag
Over time, the Reichstag started to lose control and power
The Daily Telegraph interview: In 1908 the Kaiser was interviewed by the British newspaper The Daily Mail and he suggested that Germans were anti-british, and this lead to worsened relations with Britain.
While the Reichstag couldn't introduce legislation, it kept the right to approve or disprove laws etc
The Zabern affair: reports of harsh recriminations against the people of Zabern, in Alsace, gave the impression that the Kaiser didn't care about excessive military use.
Kaiser Wilhelm 2's personality
Appeared confident in his abilities - was young, ambitious etc
He was secretly a very anxious person and was sensitive to criticism
27 years old when he came to power in 1890.
He was the grandson of Wilhelm 1, his father was Frederick of Prussia, and his mother was the eldest daughter of Queen Victoria of England
He had a withered left arm and mildly paralysed left side of his body due to complications during childbirth