The Weimar Republic Learning Objectives To explain how

The Weimar Republic Learning Objectives: • To explain how the Weimar Republic was formed. • To evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Republic’s Constitution.

Recap: Keywords Match the dates with the event 25 Oct 1918 Russian Revolution June 1918 Ebert took over as Chancellor 9 Nov 1918 Kiel Mutiny 11 Nov 1918 Ludendorff Offensive Oct 1917 Armistice Signed

LO: To explain how the Weimar Republic was formed. What was the Weimar Republic? Following the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm at the end of the First World War, Germany’s biggest political party the Social Democrat Party (SPD) set up a new democratic government which soon became known as the Weimar Republic.

LO: To explain how the Weimar Republic was formed. A perfect democracy? What features would you expect to see in the perfect democracy? Make a list. • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Weimar Constitution LO: To explain what the Weimar Republic was. The Weimar Constitution included. . . • • A Bill of Rights based on social justice guaranteed every German citizen freedom of speech and religion, and equality under the law. All men and women over the age of 20 were given the vote. This was even better than Britain where only women over 30 could vote. There was an elected president and an elected Reichstag (parliament). The Reichstag made the laws and appointed the government, which had to do what the Reichstag wanted.

LO: To explain what the Weimar Republic was. Democracy? Does the W. R. sound like a good democracy?

What did the old system look like? Kaiser (hereditary for life) appoints commands summons Government Imperial Parliament Chancellor Ministers Bundesrat Made up of States’ representatives. Supported the Kaiser. Made the laws’ Members chosen by state governments Army Reichstag A debating chamber with some control over finance, can only approve laws Elected by all men over 25

How did the Weimar Republic work? The Chancellor Selects Chosen by the President Member of the Reichstag Needed support from majority of Reichstag Needs support of The President (elected every seven years) Controls Armed Forces Houses of Parliament Reichstag (Lower House) Reichsrat (Upper House) Voted for by the German public, using proportional representation Each German state (eg. Prussia) sent representatives. Makes laws Votes for with help of Reichstag Article 48 In an emergency the President could make laws without going first to the Reichstag Votes for The German People Everyone over the age of twenty can vote for the Reichstag, and vote for the President every seven years

LO: To explain how the Weimar Republic was formed. Democracy? Review the two system of Governance, what are the differences?

Memory Test! • I will give you 2 minutes to learn the constitution of the Weimar Republic. • Close your books/laptops and put your pens down! Tip: y r o m e ic? M n o m u e n a p st e r i s f u e d h l t u g o n u c usi o y d r s o p w a h a r Pe ake. r m e u b o m y e n m e re wh o t s i d c i e t n n o a m ou w y s A pneu g n i h t the f o s r e t t e l

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How did the Weimar Republic work? The Chancellor Selects Chosen by the President Member of the Reichstag Needed support from majority of Reichstag Needs support of The President (elected every seven years) Controls Armed Forces Houses of Parliament Reichstag (Lower House) Reichsrat (Upper House) Voted for by the German public, using proportional representation Each German state (eg. Prussia) sent representatives. Makes laws Votes for with help of Reichstag Article 48 In an emergency the President could make laws without going first to the Reichstag Votes for The German People Everyone over the age of twenty can vote for the Reichstag, and vote for the President every seven years

Now write it down.

How did the Weimar Republic work? The Chancellor Selects Chosen by the President Member of the Reichstag Needed support from majority of Reichstag Needs support of The President (elected every seven years) Controls Armed Forces Houses of Parliament Reichstag (Lower House) Reichsrat (Upper House) Voted for by the German public, using proportional representation Each German state (eg. Prussia) sent representatives. Makes laws Votes for with help of Reichstag Article 48 In an emergency the President could make laws without going first to the Reichstag Votes for The German People Everyone over the age of twenty can vote for the Reichstag, and vote for the President every seven years

LO: To explain how the Weimar Republic was formed. Forming a new Govt. • After the abdication of the Kaiser, there was unrest all around Germany. • Armed groups with extreme political views clashed with the army and even claimed control. • Ebert slowly began to take control and a temporary government was formed – ‘Council of People’s Representatives’.

LO: To explain how the Weimar Republic was formed. Forming a new Govt. • This temporary government organised elections for a National Assembly on 19 th January 1919. The winners met on 6 th February 1919 to create a new constitution. • Due to unrest in Berlin, the Assembly met in Weimar. The new constitution was signed into law by the Assembly on 11 th August 1919 – thus the Weimar Republic was born.

LO: To explain how the Weimar Republic was formed. The President � He would be elected directly by the people over 20 years of age every 7 years � He would take no part in day-to-day government However, the President was a powerful figure because: � He chose the Chancellor (usually the leader of the largest party) & he could dismiss the Chancellor � He could dissolve/dismiss parliament (the Reichstag) & call new elections Friedrich Ebert � He was Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces & could use them to suppress revolts.

LO: To explain how the Weimar Republic was formed. The President According to Article 48 he could rule by EMERGENCY DECREE? Friedrich Ebert Article 48 of the Weimar constitution stated that in the event that the public order & security are seriously disturbed or endangered, the Reich President may take the measures necessary for restoration, intervening, if necessary, with the aid of the armed forces. Used 136 times by Ebert!!

LO: To explain how the Weimar Republic was formed. The Chancellor �He was appointed by the President �He was usually the leader of the party with the most seats in the Reichstag (which had resulted from his party having achieved the most votes in the general election) �He chose ministers to help him run the country �He could pass laws but needed the support of the majority in the Reichstag. Phillip Scheidemann

LO: To explain how the Weimar Republic was formed. The voting system In the UK, they use a system called ‘first past the post’ UK is made up of 83 counties. If we imagine that the UK only has 3. e. g. Kent, Essex and Sussex. There are three seats in Parliament, one for each county.

First Past the Post (what is used in UK): Kent Essex Sussex 100 voters 1 seat in Parliament

First Past the Post (what is used in UK): Kent Essex Sussex Nationalists: 51 Socialists 49 Socialist 99 Socialists 49 Nationalists Win! Socialists Win Nationalists Win!

Nationalist Parliament Kent Essex Sussex Nationalist MP Socialist MP Nationalist MP

Proportional voting: All counties are merged into one and a PERCENTAGE (%) of votes determines who gets the seats.

Proportional Representation Kent Essex Sussex Nationalists: 51 Socialists 49 Socialist 99 Socialists 49 ADD THEM ALL UP AND TAKE A PERCENTAGE

Proportional voting: 300 voters 197 vote Socialist 103 vote Nationalist

Socialist’s Win – A Socialist Parliament: Nationalists seats 34% (1 seat) Socialist seats 66% (2 seats)

Same number of votes – completely different result!

In reality by using a percentage you end up with lots of different parties in the Parliament – e. g. Parliament with a 100 seats: Nationalists: 30% 30 seats Socialists: 45% 45 seats Green Party 25% 20 seats Monster Raving Looney Party 4% 4 seats Mr Burrough to rule the world Party 1% 1 seat Socialist are the biggest party but can’t rule with a MAJOIRTY so must rely on winning over other parties to pass laws

The two biggest problems were: Proportional representation - Meant there was no party strong enough to get a majority, and, therefore, very difficult to get laws passed in the Reichstag. This was a major weakness of the Republic. Article 48 - The president could rule without consulting the Reichstag in an Emergency. The problem with this was that it did not say what an emergency was and this paved the way toward dictatorship.

LO: Outline the strengths & weaknesses of the constitution The Weimar Constitution What problems might the Weimar Republic have? I= INSTABILITY C= CHANGE I= INACTION P= PUBLIC OPINION

LO: Outline the strengths & weaknesses of the constitution The Weimar Constitution Instability: Due to coalitions; parties could very rarely agree, and even if they could agree and formed a coalition, they would often fall out quickly. Change: With coalitions constantly changing, it was hard to come up with a consistent government policy on anything Inaction: Constantly changing coalitions and lack of consistent policies meant that the government rarely got much done! Public Opinion: People were suspicious of all the change and inaction. They did not trust the new government.

*History Skills Builder* Burger/PEEL Paragraphs Bun - Point Salad - Evidence Meat - Explanation Bun - Link

LO: To practice writing PEEL paragraphs *History Skills Builder* Learn to write a PEEL paragraph Point: What you want to say – the answer to your question. Evidence: Your reason, your proof – give an example. Explanation: Explain your evidence. How does this evidence show that your point is correct? Link: Summary sentence that links back to the question

LO: Outline the strengths & weaknesses of the constitution Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Republic’s Constitution Write a PEEL paragraph P: There were both strengths and weaknesses with the new constitution of the Weimar Republic. E: Outline what these strengths and weaknesses are. E: Explain why they are strengths or weaknesses and the possible outcome they could lead to. L: While the constitution is an improvement on the countries previous governance, there areas where improvements should be made to make it a fully democratic society.

LO: Outline the strengths & weaknesses of the constitution The Weimar Constitution Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start? Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Republic’s Constitution (8 marks) What are the main strengths and why they are strengths? What are the major weaknesses and why are they weaknesses?

LO: Outline the strengths & weaknesses of the constitution The Weimar Constitution Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Republic’s Constitution? (8 Marks) Structure • Remember PEEL • At least two, preferably three paragraphs focusing on causation. • Ensure you refer to how the cause lead to an outcome for German. Full Marks • Link each reason together to show these combined lead to an outcome.