The WeimarRepublic
Learning Objectives:
• To explain how the
Weimar Republic
was formed.
• To evaluate the
strengths and
weaknesses of the
Weimar Republic’s
Constitution.
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.
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The Weimar
Constitution
LO: To
explain what
the Weimar
Republic
was.
The Weimar
Constitution
included...
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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 presidentand
an elected Reichstag (parliament).
The Reichstag made the laws and
appointed thegovernment, which
had to do what the Reichstag
wanted.
LO: To
explain what
the Weimar
Republic
was.
Democracy?
Does the W.R. soundlike 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 theReichstag
Needed support from
majority of Reichstag
The President
(elected every seven years)
Needs
support
of
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
Votes for
with help
of
Reichstag
Article 48
In an
emergency
the
President
could make
laws without
going firstto
the
Reichstag
The GermanPeople
Everyone over the age of twenty can vote for the Reichstag, and vote
for the President every sevenyears
LO: To
explain how
the Weimar
Republic was
formed.
Democracy?
Review the two system of Governance,
what are the differences?
How did the Weimar Republic work?
The Chancellor
Selects
Chosen by the President
Member of theReichstag
Needed support from
majority of Reichstag
The President
(elected every seven years)
Needs
support
of
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
Votes for
with help
of
Reichstag
Article 48
In an
emergency
the
President
could make
laws without
going firstto
the
Reichstag
The GermanPeople
Everyone over the age of twenty can vote for the Reichstag, and vote
for the President every sevenyears
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 19th
January 1919. The winners
met on 6thFebruary 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 11th 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
Friedrich
Ebert
He could dissolve/dismiss parliament (the
Reichstag) & call new elections
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 EMERGENCYDECREE?
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 themeasures 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 votingsystem
How does Preferential Voting work?
Imagine There are three seats inParliament.
First Past the Post
(what is used in UK)
Camden
Campbelltown
Picton
100 voters
100 voters
100 voters
1 seat in
Parliament
1 seat in
Parliament
1 seat in
Parliament
First Past the Post
(what is used in UK):
Camden
Ctown
Picton
Nationalists:
51
Nationalists:
1
Nationalists:
51
Socialists 49
Socialist 99
Socialists 49
Nationalists Win!
Socialists Win
Nationalists Win!
Nationalist Parliament
Camden
Campbelltown
Picton
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
Camden
Ctown
Picton
Nationalists:
51
Nationalists:
1
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
Parliament:
Nationalists seats  34% (1 seat)
Socialist seats  66% (2seats)
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%  30seats
Socialists: 45%  45 seats
Green Party 25%  20 seats
Monster Raving Looney Party 4% 4 seats
Mr Burrough to rule the worldParty1%  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=PUBLICOPINION
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.
LO: To
practice
writing PEEL
paragraphs
*History SkillsBuilder*
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 PEELparagraph
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 are areas where
improvements should be made to make it a fully
democratic society.
LO: Outline the
strengths &
weaknesses of
the
constitution
The Weimar
Constitution
Did the Weimar Republic represent a
brave experiment in democracy or
was it poorly planned and
executed?
Explain the strengths and weaknesses of
the Weimar Republic’s Constitution
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?
Structure
• Remember PEEL
• At least two, preferably three paragraphs focusing on
causation.
• Ensure you refer to how the cause lead to an outcome for
Germany.
Full Marks
• Link each reason together to show how these combined
lead to an outcome.