Wilhemine Germany: Political parties and PGs

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Political Developments: The LEFT

Political developments on the left:

  • This inclluded social and economic change, which produced polarisation of German politics.
  • There was the growing urban working class, which lead to an expansion of left wing organisations.
  • By 1900, the trade union movement was the largest in the world.
  • The main political party on the left was the SPD.
  • Growth of the working class and the left provided a challenge to Germay's conservative elite.
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Political developments: The RIGHT

Political developments on the right included:

  • The rise of nationalist politics with elements of the German Conservative Party (DKP), meant it was moving in an extremist direction.
  • Parties that represented the new business elite, such as the NLP, became increasingly conservative.
  • As a result, PGs sought to:
    • Protectt the social elite from free market policies.
    • Promote nationalism, colonial and military expansion.
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Political Parties and PGs

Political Parties:

  • The DKP: (German Conservative Party)
    • Represented the Junkers and was strong in Prussia.
    • Had links with the govt.
    • Was anti-Semitic and radical elements were inserted into the party's constitution.
  • FKP: (Free Conservative Party)
    • Supported by industrialists and landowners.
    • Had broad geogrpahical support.
  • NLP: (National Liberal Party)
    • This party represented bankers and industrialists.
    • Supported economic and political liberalism.
    • Over time, it came to be similar to the DKP.
  • The Centre Party:
    • This represented the Catholics and worked closely with cibservative partues, but sided with SPD at times.
    • Often held the balance of power in the Reichstag.
  • The SPD:
    • Had revoluntinary aims, but was mainly moderate and reformist.
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PGs

Pressure Groups:

  • The Agrarian League:
    • This was formed by Junkers.
    • They seeked protectionist measures against competition.
    • It was nationalist and anti-Semitic.
    • It had links with the SKP.
  • The Central Association of German Industrialists:
    • This was a powerful group, calling for tariffs to protect German industry against foreign competitions.
  • The Navy League:
    • This campainged for German naval expansion.
  • The German Colonial League:
    • This supported colonial expansion.
  • The Pan German League:
    • This sought a dominant role for Germany in Europe.
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PGs

Pressure Groups:

  • The Agrarian League:
    • This was formed by Junkers.
    • They seeked protectionist measures against competition.
    • It was nationalist and anti-Semitic.
    • It had links with the SKP.
  • The Central Association of German Industrialists:
    • This was a powerful group, calling for tariffs to protect German industry against foreign competitions.
  • The Navy League:
    • This campainged for German naval expansion.
  • The German Colonial League:
    • This supported colonial expansion.
  • The Pan German League:
    • This sought a dominant role for Germany in Europe.
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