politics of the weimar republic
DESCRIPTION
An outline of the various parties involved in the Weimar RepublicTRANSCRIPT
Politics in Weimar Germany
Learning Objectives: • To explain the political spectrum in
Germany
Starter: Can you remember the two main problems with the Weimar Constitution?
Weimar Republic Constitution
Politics in Weimar
Germany
LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany
When the Weimar Republic was set up, the largest political party was the Social Democratic Party (the SDP). Their leader, Friedrich Ebert, was therefore chosen to be the first president.
What was the difference between the president and the chancellor?
The first thing he does is sign the armistice on 11th November – this brings an end to WW1.
• Allies prepared to make peace on conditions:
• Kaiser and Generals must give up powers
• Power given to the Reichstag
• Germany went from a country of autocracy and became a parliamentary democracy
Politics in Weimar
Germany
LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany
• The Armistice was an agreement signed by representatives of France, Great Britain and Germany. It was an agreement to end fighting as a prelude to peace negotiations. The Treaty of Versailles
• The Armistice began at on 11th November 1918 at 11am (French time) - the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
• The Armistice took place in Ferdinand Foch's railway carriage in the Forest of Compiègne, about 37 miles (60 km) north of Paris.
Politics in Weimar
Germany
LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany
What does this source suggest about German reaction to the armistice?
DolchstossLO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany
Dolchstoss (the stab-in-the-back theory) was the idea among some in Germany (particularly the right wing and the army) that Germany was not going to lose the war and the armistice should not have been signed.
They called the Weimar Republic’s leaders the ‘November Criminals’
The Political Spectrum
LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany
CentreFar
Left
Far Right
Centre Left
Centre Right
Democratic and appeals to everyone
Democratic and appeals to lower classes(workers)
Democratic and appeals to rich or nationalistic
Dictatorship and
appeals to lower
classes(workers)
Dictatorship and appeals to rich or nationalistic
• Equality• Social change• Distribution of wealth
• Personal liberty• Capitalism
• Private property
The Political Spectrum
LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany
Read the descriptions of the different political parties and
try to place them in the correct place on the political
spectrum.
LEFT WING
RIGHT WINGCENTRE
Communism Socialism Liberalism Conservatism
The Political Spectrum
LO: To explain the political spectrum in Germany
Nationalism/ Fascism
Fact or Fiction?The Kaiser abdicated on 11th November 1918
Dictatorship means a state with a strong leader, one-party rule
One characteristic of fascism is often nationalism
Fascism is extreme left wing and gains support from workers
Friedrich Ebert became the first elected president of Germany
The Armistice was signed between Germany, France, Britain and Russia
The president of the Weimar republic ruled for 8 years
Under the new constitution anyone under 20yrs. can vote
The new republic was named after the town it was established
Article 54 have the president power to pass laws without voting in the Reichstag first