1. Why was it called the Weimar Republic and not the Berlin Republic?
It was called the Weimar Republic because it was based in Weimar.
2. What new rights did Friedrich Ebert promise the German people?
Freedom of press, religion, speech, and work
3. Hey, a democracy. Sounds great! Why was this a shock to the Germany peoples' systems?
For a long time, they had been ruled by a king, or a Kaiser. Democracy was something new for them.
4. What positions did the opposition on the right hold that restricted Friedrich Ebert's new government?
The opposition on the right held positions in the courts.
5. What was the name of "powerful myth" that developed and what "evidence" was there to support the myth?
this myth was called the
6. Study Source 3: What position was Ebert elected to in Jan. 1919? Who elected him?
Ebert was elected to the position of Chancellor.
7. Study Source 3: How would a Chancellor gain power in the Weimar Republic? (Why you need to know this: By 1933 Hitler will have this job.)
The chancellor must be elected by the people,
Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Germany. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Germans React Angrily to the Treaty
Under each of the following six points briefly explain why Germany reacted so angrily to the Treaty of Versailles.
1. Germans were no aware of the situation in 1919.
Germans had no idea that they were losing the war, so when the politicians declared an armistice, they were surprised. They were shocked when they discovered how harsh the terms of the treaty were, especially since they had been told that they were winning the war. They were then told that the generals had been "stabbed in the back" by the politicians, and that they hadn't wanted this treaty.
2. War guilt and reparations
Germany was forced to accept the blame for WWI, thus allowing the Treaty of Versailles to be officially condoned. this also allowed France to force Germany to pay them an impossible sum of money, hobbling them so that they couldn't attack again.
3. Disarmament
Germany had to limit it's military. It could only have an army of 100,000 troops at a time. it could only have 6 battleships, no aircraft, and no armord vehicles or tanks.
4. German territories
All of Germanies external colonies were taken away, it's western region was demilitarized, and about 30% of the mainland was taken away and split into different countries. It was also forbidden to join up with Austria.
5. Fourteen Points and League of Nations
The fourteen points plan was a plan that was put together by Woodrow Wilson in order to support world peace. Points 1-5 were about freedom of seas and things like that. Points 6-13 were about land divisions. And point 14 was about the League of Nations: a place where disagreements could be settled with words instead of guns.
6. Double Standards?
Germany lost the Valley of Saars, which held 15 of its most productive mines, and were expected to pay a massive debt without them.
1. Germans were no aware of the situation in 1919.
Germans had no idea that they were losing the war, so when the politicians declared an armistice, they were surprised. They were shocked when they discovered how harsh the terms of the treaty were, especially since they had been told that they were winning the war. They were then told that the generals had been "stabbed in the back" by the politicians, and that they hadn't wanted this treaty.
2. War guilt and reparations
Germany was forced to accept the blame for WWI, thus allowing the Treaty of Versailles to be officially condoned. this also allowed France to force Germany to pay them an impossible sum of money, hobbling them so that they couldn't attack again.
3. Disarmament
Germany had to limit it's military. It could only have an army of 100,000 troops at a time. it could only have 6 battleships, no aircraft, and no armord vehicles or tanks.
4. German territories
All of Germanies external colonies were taken away, it's western region was demilitarized, and about 30% of the mainland was taken away and split into different countries. It was also forbidden to join up with Austria.
5. Fourteen Points and League of Nations
The fourteen points plan was a plan that was put together by Woodrow Wilson in order to support world peace. Points 1-5 were about freedom of seas and things like that. Points 6-13 were about land divisions. And point 14 was about the League of Nations: a place where disagreements could be settled with words instead of guns.
6. Double Standards?
Germany lost the Valley of Saars, which held 15 of its most productive mines, and were expected to pay a massive debt without them.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Impact of WWI on Germany
Political Challenges
fighting political opposition from both the left and the right.
fighting
Social Challenges
fighting political opposition from both the left and the right.
fighting
Social Challenges
- huge gap bewteen rich and poor
- women working in factories
- opposition from soldiers
- worthless currency
- industry at 66% of normal
- income at 33% of normal
- huge gap between rich and poor
Monday, September 26, 2011
Germany is "Punished" by the Big Three at Versailles
1. Using information and sources on pages 14 - 17, summarize the aims of the three leaders at the Paris Peace Conference.
Georges Clemenceau (France)
Attitude towards Germany:
Clemenceau saw Germany as an ever growing threat to France.
Main Aim:
Even though he personally disagreed with it, public opinion forced him to take a strong stance against Germany, namely, crippling it so it could never attack again.
How he felt about the treaty
He knew that he would need to compromise, but he took the stance anyway.
Woodrow Wilson (United States)
Attitude towards Germany:
He believed it should be punished, but not too harshly.
Main Aim:
To strengthen the democracy in Germany and achieve world peace.
How he felt about the treaty
He saw it as an opportunity to argue his 14 point plan.
David Lloyd George (Great Britain)
Attitude towards Germany:
He believed that Germany should be punished, but not too harshly
Main Aim:
He wanted to punish Germany, but not so much that Germany wants revenge. he also wants to begin a trade relationship with Germany.
How he felt about the treaty:
He saw the treaty as necessary, but didn't want to take it too far.
Main Terms of the Treaty of Versailles against Germany
2. Read pages 18 - 19. Summarize the main terms of the Treaty of Versailles:
War Guilt:
Germany had to take the blame for the war.
Reparations:
Germany had to pay for damages caused by the war, a figure of 6,600 Pounds.
German Territories and Colonies:
Germany's overseas empire was taken away, and were placed under the control of the League of Nations.
Germany's Armed Forces:
The army was limited to 100,000 men, no armored vehicles, subs, or aircraft, only six battleships, no conscription, and the Rhineland became a demilitarized zone.
League of Nations:
The League of Nations was the "International Police Force". Germany was not allowed to join until it showed it was a "peace loving country".
Georges Clemenceau (France)
Attitude towards Germany:
Clemenceau saw Germany as an ever growing threat to France.
Main Aim:
Even though he personally disagreed with it, public opinion forced him to take a strong stance against Germany, namely, crippling it so it could never attack again.
How he felt about the treaty
He knew that he would need to compromise, but he took the stance anyway.
Woodrow Wilson (United States)
Attitude towards Germany:
He believed it should be punished, but not too harshly.
Main Aim:
To strengthen the democracy in Germany and achieve world peace.
How he felt about the treaty
He saw it as an opportunity to argue his 14 point plan.
David Lloyd George (Great Britain)
Attitude towards Germany:
He believed that Germany should be punished, but not too harshly
Main Aim:
He wanted to punish Germany, but not so much that Germany wants revenge. he also wants to begin a trade relationship with Germany.
How he felt about the treaty:
He saw the treaty as necessary, but didn't want to take it too far.
Main Terms of the Treaty of Versailles against Germany
2. Read pages 18 - 19. Summarize the main terms of the Treaty of Versailles:
War Guilt:
Germany had to take the blame for the war.
Reparations:
Germany had to pay for damages caused by the war, a figure of 6,600 Pounds.
German Territories and Colonies:
Germany's overseas empire was taken away, and were placed under the control of the League of Nations.
Germany's Armed Forces:
The army was limited to 100,000 men, no armored vehicles, subs, or aircraft, only six battleships, no conscription, and the Rhineland became a demilitarized zone.
League of Nations:
The League of Nations was the "International Police Force". Germany was not allowed to join until it showed it was a "peace loving country".
Thursday, September 22, 2011
The German Revolution
1. Using the documents in Chapter 1 as evidence, list the ways in which conditions in Germany worsened during the war.
British Ships had cut off the people from food imports, and due to the cold winter, potatoes were destroyed, forcing people to live off turnips instead. there were many protests, and several were shut down by police brutality.
2. Give two reasons why the war caused such bad conditions for German civilians.
British ships had cut off all trade by sea, and there was a coal shortage.
3. After reading Chapter 2, give two reasons why Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated on November 10, 1918.
Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated for several reasons. The first reason was because none of his generals supported him. The second was because the entire nation had gone through a revolution against him.
4. Using the information you have read in this chapter, give evidence to support the statement that there was "revolution all over Germany."
Almost every city in Germany underwent a revolution against the established order of Kaiser Wilhelm. It all started in the city of Kiel. It then spread throughout Germany.
British Ships had cut off the people from food imports, and due to the cold winter, potatoes were destroyed, forcing people to live off turnips instead. there were many protests, and several were shut down by police brutality.
2. Give two reasons why the war caused such bad conditions for German civilians.
British ships had cut off all trade by sea, and there was a coal shortage.
3. After reading Chapter 2, give two reasons why Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated on November 10, 1918.
Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated for several reasons. The first reason was because none of his generals supported him. The second was because the entire nation had gone through a revolution against him.
4. Using the information you have read in this chapter, give evidence to support the statement that there was "revolution all over Germany."
Almost every city in Germany underwent a revolution against the established order of Kaiser Wilhelm. It all started in the city of Kiel. It then spread throughout Germany.
5. Study the information about the German Socialists in Chapter 2, page 5. What did the three Socialist groups have in common?
All three groups had the same objectives: improving workers' conditions, and giving democratic rights to all Germans.
6. In what ways were the Socialist groups different.
Each of the groups had a different way of completing their objective. The Social Democratic Party wanted to support the government and pass reforms through parliament. The Independent Socialists wanted to oppose the government, forcing it to make reforms through organized strikes. The Spartacists wanted to overthrow the government in a revolution, setting up councils of workers and soldiers.
7. After reading Chapter 3 make a time chart of the events of the German Revolution from Nov. 10, 1918 to Jan. 15, 1919. You should be able to find six events.
November 10, 1918: Friedrich Ebert takes power.
November 12, 1918: Friedrich Ebert issues a statement promising freedom of speech and religion and an 8 hour work day.
December 23, 1918: Friedrich Ebert is taken hostage by 1000 hungry and underpaid sailors.
December 31, 1918: The Spartacists renamed themselves The German Communist Party and decided to work for a revolution.
January 6, 1919: The German Communist Party begins its revolution.
January 10, 1919: Two thousand members of the Free Corps. attacked the German Communist Party in Berlin.
January 15, 1919: The Free Corps. arrest the leaders of the German Communist Party. They are savagely beaten, then executed.
8. At what time would you say the Communists had their best chance of seizing power? Explain your answer.
I think that the weeks preceding December 23, 1918 were the Communists best chance of seizing power. This is because, even though Friedrich Ebert had issued his statement, the people were still hungry and underpaid. If the Communists had used this anger and turned the people against Friedrich Ebert, they could have used them to orchestrate a successful coup.
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