Origins of German Democracy

1. The Weimar Republic was established after the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1918. However, the new government faced challenges from both left-wing and right-wing groups. Which of the following was a left-wing uprising in 1919?

• Kapp Putsch

• Beer Hall Putsch

• Ruhr Uprising

• Spartacist Uprising

2. The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, was highly unpopular in Germany. What is the clause that forced Germany to accept responsibility for starting the Great War?

• Reparations Clause

• War Guilt Clause

• Diktat Clause

• Versailles Clause

3. The Weimar Republic experienced hyperinflation in 1923. What was the main trigger for this extreme economic crisis?

• the French and Belgian occupation of the Ruhr

• reparations payments

• the Dawes Plan

• the Wall Street Crash

The political system of the Weimar Republic was based on proportional representation. What was a main consequence of this electoral system?

• it created stable governments

• it resulted in unstable coalition governments

• it gave the President too much power

• it resulted in a 2-party system

What was the name of the paramilitary groups, composed of ex-soldiers, who were used to suppress left-wing uprisings?

• Freikorps

• Reichswehr

• Sturmabteilung (SA)

• Umbrella Academy

Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution was controversial. What power did it grant the President?

• the power to rule by decree in a state of emergency

• the power to declare war

• the power to dissolve the Reichstag

• the power to appoint and fire the Chancellor

What was a consequence of the hyperinflation crisis in 1923?

• the government confiscated private property

• it strengthened the middle class

• stimulated the rise of trade unions

• ruined the savings of ordinary citizens

The Treaty of Versailles' main impact on the Weimar Republic was that it:

• undermined the legitimacy of the new democratic government

• created positive relations with the former enemies

• unified the political parties of Germany

• gave the new government a mandate to rebuild the economy

The Weimar Constitution's system of proportional representation is seen as a weakness because it:

• led to the hyperinflation crisis

• allowed extremist parties to gain a foothold in the Reichstag

• required a 2/3 majority to pass laws

• gave the Chancellor far too much power

The hyperinflation crisis's main effect was:

• to demonstrate the stability of Germany's economy

• to unify all social classes against the government

• to erode the public's trust in democratic governance

• to confirm the success of the government's economic policies