1. Starter - Recap Mini-whiteboard quiz
1. What title did the ruler of Germany have?
2. Who was ‘Kaiser’ during our period of study?
3. Describe Kaiser Wilhelm II’s character in no more than 10 words.
4. The Kaiser was supreme commander of…
5. What was the title of the Kaiser’s chief advisor?
6. Name the two ‘houses’ of the German government. (hint – State/National)
7. Which was more powerful – the Reichstag or Bundesrat?
8. Who voted for members of the Reichstag?
9. True or False: The Kaiser could dismiss the Chancellor whenever he wanted to.
10. True or False: The German Army swore an oath of loyalty to the Kaiser.

2. Glossary words
Militarism
Bundesrat
Trade Unions
Socialism
SDP

3. What problems did Kaiser Wilhelm II face between 1890-1914?
LO: To evaluate the impact of changes on Germany and the stability of Germany.

4. What does the chart suggest?
Year
Marks (German currency)
1880
2,977
1890
3,410
1900
4,753
1910
7,475
1913
10,097
Value of foreign trade (in millions)

5. What problems did the Kaiser’s governments face?
1. Growth of Democracy
2. Industrialisation
Why was this a problem for the Kaiser?
Why was this a problem for the Kaiser?
3. Growth of Socialism
Print this out as an A3 sheet for students to fill out.
Why was this a problem for the Kaiser?

6. Growth of Parliamentary Government
The Kaiser dominated decision-making in the German government.
Yet, at the same time, new political parties became more organised and important. There were several main political parties but none of them came close to achieving a majority in the Reichstag.
At the beginning of Wilhelm II’s reign, right-wing parties had more power and influence. However, by 1914 the left-wing Social Democrat Party (SDP) was the largest party.
RIGHT-WING Parties that supported traditional values and the rights of the rich. They tended to be very nationalistic and supported the growth of the German Empire.
LEFT-WING Parties that were more concerned with the rights of the workers. They gained most support from the growing number of working-class people working in Germany’s industries.

7. Growth of Parliamentary Government
Why was this a problem for the Kaiser?
Political parties (like the SDP) were slowing gaining more power and influence over German politics.
The SDP were often at odds with the Chancellor and Kaiser. The Chancellor found it hard to get support from the Reichstag.
The Reichstag had more influence over German politics than it had ever had before.

8. Industrialisation
The industrial strength of Germany rapidly increased under Wilhelm II.
For example, in 1880 Germany was only producing half as much steel as Britain. By 1914 it was producing over twice as much as Britain.
By 1914, Germany was produced one-third of the world’s electrical goods. Its telephone system was the most advanced in the world. Germany also led the world in chemical and steel industries. Foreign trade flourished and exports rose rapidly.
The population of Germany rose from 40 million in 1871 to 68 million in This growth provided the manpower for the growing industrial cities.

9. Why was this a problem for the Kaiser?
Industrialisation
Why was this a problem for the Kaiser?
The large increase in the population of industrial workers in the cities led to increased demands for democracy and worker’s rights.
Many workers joined Trade Unions. Organisations which fought for worker’s rights. They had 3.3 million members by 1914.
Workers generally had different views to the Kaiser. They wanted more democracy and more powers for the Reichstag. Whereas the Kaiser believed in autocracy and the power of the Army.

10. Socialism
Growing population in cities and towns created social problems. The working class wanted better working and living conditions.
Most workers believed in socialism – the idea that power and wealth should be shared equally among the people. They thought it was wrong that the Kaiser and his advisors had all of the power. They also didn’t think it was fair that the middle and upper-classes had more money than them.
Most workers and socialists supported the Socialist ‘Social Democrat Party’ (SDP) and voted for them in elections. This resulted in the SDP becoming the largest party in the Reichstag.
Some socialists had more extreme views: they wanted to rebel against the Kaiser and start a revolution. They wanted to take over the country and allow towns and cities to be controlled by workers.

11. Why was this a problem for the Kaiser?
Socialism
Why was this a problem for the Kaiser?
The Kaiser and the upper classes feared the growth of the working classes, which threatened their wealth and status.
The Kaiser was also under pressure to introduce socialist reforms to help the working classes. He had already given in to several socialist demands – such as allowing old age pensions and insurance schemes which covered 14 million Germans. He was also scared of a socialist revolution.
The Reichstag (with the SDP at its biggest party) began to have more influence over German politics than ever before.

12. Rapid Industrialisation
The Kaiser’s problems
Rise of Socialism
The idea that all Germans should be equal and all workers should own/run the businesses they work for. The Kaiser feared a socialist revolution.
Rapid Industrialisation
Germany’s economy massively expanded.
Working classes grew in number.
Working conditions were poor and workers wanted better representation.
Increased support for the SDP
The growing working class supported the SDP political party. The SDP had very different political views to the Kaiser. The SDP represented the working class, while the Kaiser supported privilege for the military and upper classes.
Growth of Democracy
As the SDP became the largest party in the Reichstag, the Chancellor found it more difficult to gain support from the Reichstag. The Reichstag had more influence in German politics than ever before.

13. Plenary
The Kaiser’s problems
TASK: Complete the following 3 activities:
2 = Put 3 headings: Industrialisation. Socialism. Growth of Democracy. In 1 sentence, explain what each of them were.
4 = Complete ‘G’ task. Then, in 1 sentence for each explain how each was a problem for the Kaiser.
7 = Draw and label a diagram of how each of the 3 problems were linked together.

14. Task
You are the chief minister of industries in Germany. The Kaiser wants a report on the industrialisation taking place in Germany, and the impact it is having on the country.
He wants a concise report of no more than 200 words.
You will be sacked if you miss anything out!

15. Think!
Why did support for left-wing parties grow in the years before WWI?
How did the government try to pacify the demands of the people?
How effective were their attempts?
What impact did this have on the demographics of the Reichstag?
Extension – what problems does this create for the Kaiser and the stability of Germany?

16. What is Communism?
Create a FactFile or short news bulletin explaining Marx’s ideas and communism.
Why were these ideas problematic for Kaiser Wilhelm II?

17. Summary Who or what posed the biggest threat to Germany before 1914?
How explosive was the domestic situation?

18. Exam practice.
Describe two problems faced by Kaiser Wilhelm II’s governments in ruling Germany up to [4 marks]
One was ...
This involved ...
This meant that ...
Another was ...

19. Knowledge quiz

20. In what year did the states of Germany become the German Reich?

21. 1871

22. What was the name of the first Chancellor of the German Reich?

23. Otto von Bismarck

24. When did Kaiser Wilhelm II come to the throne?

25. 1888

26. When did he force Bismarck to resign?

27. 1890

28. When did Wilhelm introduce Weltpolitik?

29. 1891

30. What was Weltpolitik?

31. Wilhelm’s ‘world policy’, to build a German empire overseas.

32. What was the main left-wing party in Germany by 1914?

33. The SDP

34. Why did support for left-wing parties grow?

35. Rapid industrialisation

36. Why was this a problem for the Kaiser?

37. Feared uprising of the working classes – revolution!

38. Why was the growth of the SDP problematic?

39. At odds with the Kaiser and Chancellor, so Chancellor often found it hard to get Reichstag support for laws and bills.

40. By 1914, how much more steel was Germany producing compared to Britain?

41. Twice as much