These revision notes provide an in depth summary of this specific chapter of AQA History in the Study of The quest for political stability: Germany, 1871–1991. They can be used directly as lecture notes or can be reduced further to more of a summary of the topic.
History revision – German political developments 1890-1914 (4)
- Wilhelm wanted overall power and declared that there was “only one man in charge of
the Reich”
Leo von Caprivi (1890-94)
- Wilhelm selected Caprivi as he desired a character who would do as he was told
- Was a man who aimed to stand above parties and particular interests
- Caprivi set out the “New course” for Gr politics:
o End to Anti-Socialist law
o More influence over policy-making for ministers
o A reduction in tariffs
o Social reforms
Social reform:
- Went out of his way to make concessions to Socialists, Poles and Centrists
o Anti-Socialist Laws lapsed in 1890
- Rely on Reichstag support to push through a number of social measures in 1891:
o Sunday work prohibited
o Employment of children under 13 forbidden
Tariff reform:
- Put forward a bill to reform the 1879 tariff act
o Prompted by wheat shortages that had led to rise in food prices
Negotiated treaties with Aus, It, Ru and smaller states from 1891-94
The Agrarian League:
- Opposed tariff reform and mounted a hostile anti-Caprivi propaganda campaign
o Denounced him as a Socialist hell bent on ruining wheat producers
The Army Bill:
- C angered the right further by reducing military service from 3 to 2 years
- Alienated left by introducing army bill that increased peacetime army by 84,000 men
- Army budget to be reviewed every 5 years as opposed to every 7
- When the army bill was defeated, Caprivi dissolved the Reichstag
- 1893, Conservatives and NL’s improved their position and army bill passed
Caprivi’s fall:
- Conservative opposition to the New Course reinforced Wilhelm’s doubts over Caprivi
- Worried by SPD success in 1893, Wilhelm pressed Caprivi to draw up anti-Socialist
measures however, Caprivi was aware Reichstag would not accept this and refused
- Eulenburg encouraged Kaiser to work independently by ignoring the Reichstag
o Talked out of this by Caprivi
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