Political Movements & Pressure Groups

Starter

Using the cards; match the correct party to their correct views & groups.

Conservatives

Groups representing: Junkers, landed interests, especially in Prussia.

Views: Supported the Kaiser, discipline and authority; in favour of a nationalist foreign

policy.

Free Conservatives

Groups representing:Commercial, industrial and wealthier

professionalclasses from across Germany.Views:

Similar to Conservatives.Strong supporters of Bismarck and

protectionism.

National Liberals

Groups Representing:Industrial Middle Class, Protestant Middle Class.

Views:Nationalist; believed in a strong nation state &

encouragement of a state with a liberal constitution; supported Bismarck’s attack on the Catholic Church (Kulturkampf); political

allies of the conservative parties.

Liberal Progressives

Groups Representing:Middle Classes

Views:

Very much in favour of the development of Parliamentary government; not so keen on Bismarck’s idea of the power of the nation state, views closely shared by the German

Peoples Party.

Centre Party

Groups representing:The Catholic Church & its members, essentially

based in the south; also support from non-socialist working class and middle and middle

& lower middle class interests.Views:

Opposed Bismarck’s attack on the Catholic Church; feared rise of socialism; anti-Prussia.

Social Democratic Party

Groups Representing:Working Class after Bismarck’s Anti-Socialist

Laws lapsed in 1890.Views: Split.

Marxists argued for revolution and non-cooperation with the political with the

political system; Reformists argued that the party should work within the political system

to achieve social reform.

Learning Objectives: To undsterstand the political make up of Germany pre WWI. Including parties, pressure groups & views.

Success Criteria: To create a chart showing each political party & pressure group and the relationships between them

Consequences of Economic Development

The changes that took place in the German economy provided pressures which the political system had to deal with. Some historians have suggested that the pressures were too much for the system to deal with.

• There was a contradiction between economic modernisation (seeing industry flourish & cities grow) and the lack of political reform & the restricted spread of democracy.

• There was uneven economic growth leading to rising unemployment & prices between 1912 & 1914. This period saw clashes between workers & strikers (the Ruhr).

• There was an increase in participation in politics in the run up to WWI. The chalenge for the governing classes was to channel and control the impact of such pressure.

Socialist Movement

What is a socialist movement?

Where do the origins of socialism lie?

One of the major impacts of indistrialisation was the growth of the socialist movement. The german government hoped to dampen the working classes enthusiasm by passing the Anti-Socialist Laws of 1878 – 90 (Banned groups, meetings

& publications. Upheld by Police surveilance and powers given to local authorities).

However, this had the opposite effect. There were elements in the SPD that were revolutionary but

that did not mean this was indicative of the whole movement. But it was the establishments perception of the movement that was important & led to the rise of Socialism

being such a big issue.

How would the establishment view the Socialist movement?

Party 1898 1903 1907 1912

Conservatives 56 54 60 43

Free Conservatives

23 21 24 14

National Liberals

46 51 54 45

Liberal Progressives

41 31 42 42

Centre Party 102 100 105 91

Social Democrats

56 81 43 110

Others 82 63 69 52

Seats won in the Reichstag 1898 – 1912

Use the table to explain the developments in voting and the fortunes of political parties from 1898 to 1912. You might choose to plot this on a graph.

Just before WWI, around 2.5m German workers were members of trade unions & 400,000 went out on strikes at some point in 1913.

In 1910, the SPD had 720,000 members making it the largest Socialist party in Europe. Memebership was predominantly Protestant & working class.

By the eve of the war, the SPD were winning 75% of the vote in Berlin.

How much of a threat were the SPD to the establishment?

Read the information on the ideas relating to the aims of the SPD and decide if the SPD

posed a real threat.

Pressure Groups

This was another consequence of economic & social changes. These groups often focused on

single issues but highlighted tensions & division in Germany.

These are divided into 2 groups:Nationalist and Economic

Nationalist Pressure Groups

There were three main groups that pressurised for German colonial expansion and the

assertion of German interests. They were to have an important impact on the

deveopment of policy.

The German Colonial League

Was founded in 1892 and was concerned with the acquistion of German colonies. It also played a part in ruling various parts of the far-flung empire, e.g. 1884 the Colonial League took control of German South West Africa.

The Pan German League

Founded in 1890. It was also committed to the acquistion of colonies but also to German dominance in Europe. The League had strong support from the political establishment, some 60 members of the Reichstag (mostly National Liberals) being members of the organisation in 1914.

The Navy League

Founded in 1898. Was highly popular and had a membership of around 1 million. The League played an important role in the successful campaign in and outside the Reichstag to promote naval expansion.

Economic Pressure GroupsThe Central Association of German Industrialists

Created in 1886 to protect industrial interests, and from 1878 onwards that meant the implementation of tarrifs. In the 1912 election the organsiation funded 120 candidates from the conservative & liberal parties, at a cost of 1 million marks. Not surprisingly, it was considered to be the most powerful pressure group in Germany.

The Agrarian League

Founded in 1893 to protect agrarian interests. Although Junker led, it gained widespread support from the peasantry and had a third of a million members by 1914. It pushed for protectionsim and subsidies for agriculture.

Task

With there being a number of Political Parties and pressure groups in Germany, it is

important to undertand their position in relation to each other and their left or right

wing positions.Plot the political & pressure groups on a chart from left wing to right wing and try draw links

between each group and then explain your reasons.

Plenary