A-Level History - Germany 1 - Imperial Germany

Front

The imperial German government was an _________, with power centred on one person.

Back

autocracy

Answer explanation

Autocracy is a key term that you definitely should be able to remember.

It can be applied to dictatorships and monarchies - as long as power is centred on one individual it can be called an autocracy.

Front

Largest and most powerful German state?

Back

Prussia

Answer explanation

Prussia was the largest and most militaristic of the states that made up the German Confederation, with Austria being a close second in size.

Front

War ending in 1871 that founded the German Empire and acquired Alsace-Lorraine.

Back

Franco-Prussian-War

Answer explanation

The unification of Germany was masterminded by Otto Von Bismarck.

They fought a series of wars in 1860s against:

•Denmark (1864)

•Austria (1866)

•France (1870)

The newly united Germany, referred to as German Empire or Second Reich was established in January 1871 after the Franco-Prussian War.

The taking of Alsace-Lorraine from France would prove to be very contentious and becomes important at the end of the First World War.

Front

The German landowning class with significant political power and profits from agriculture was called?

Back

Junkers

Answer explanation

These formed the German aristocracy and would go on to become embedded in all aspects of German politics.

Front

Ideology spreading in Germany with urban growth?

Back

Socialism

Answer explanation

Both industrial and urban growth led to:

•Growth of an industrial working class

•Poorer working and living conditions

•Concentration of the working class into more confined urban areas

•Rising anger and discontent

•Spreading of socialist ideas, leading to greater support for the SPD

Front

The Kaiser before WWI was _______ II.

Back

Wilhelm

Answer explanation

He was:

• - Unstable and unpredictable character

• - Dictatorial - believed in Divine Right of Kings

• - Domestic policy became more erratic and confrontational

• - Foreign policy more aggressive

• - Hence, period up to 1914 increasingly tense and crisis ridden