The Reichstag

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  • Created by: o s
  • Created on: 21-04-14 09:17

The Reichstag

Causes

  • Decline of Right Wing Parties - Kaiser + government needed majority to pass legislation, usually relied on backing of right wing.
  • Importance of Catholic Centre Party (ZP) - largest party in Reichstag, held beween 90-110 seats.
  • Rise of Social Democrats - Gained substantial support and by 1912 they became the largest party (110 seats 28%). Marxist party committed to overthrowing wilhelmine class system, support stemmed from new urban working class.

Effects

  • First 20 years of rue right wing support declined, became increasingly dependant on support of centre + moderate left - the left liberals and centre party.
  • They knew they held the balance and exploited this position, sometimes co-operated and sometimes rejected legislation.
  • SPD however was divided between reformists and revolutionaries. Reformists thought best path was through parliamentary reform, revolutionaries advocated a violent pathway to Marxism. Right wing saw all of the SPD as a force of evil.

Overall summary

The Reichstag was polarised between right and left, as the right wanted little (if any change) whereas the left wanted a genuine parliamentary democracy. The Kaiser could no longer maintain a majority as the right wing parties were in decline, the centre party was still strong and the significant rise in the Social Democrats. This therefore made constitutional inflexibility a key issue.

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