 starter activity Ebert was the Weimar Republic’s first President. He was in power from He was a tailor’s son and trained originally to be a saddler. With this lack of political expertise he was a very worried man. What was on his mind in the summer of 1919? Use the pictures to help you.

What was the Weimar constitution? Understand the key elements of Weimar constitution Evaluate its strengths & weaknesses Assess the challenges facing the government from other political parties  Aims

 Your task Complete the table you teacher provides summarising the key features of the Weimar Constitution. Complete the table you teacher provides summarising the key features of the Weimar Constitution. List the advantages and disadvantages with this constitution. Your table should be about ½ side of A4 List the advantages and disadvantages with this constitution. Your table should be about ½ side of A4 AdvantagesDisadvantages

Advantages All Germans had equal rights, including the right to vote All Germans had equal rights, including the right to vote Proportional representation made sure parties had the same percentage of seats in parliament as they did in the election Proportional representation made sure parties had the same percentage of seats in parliament as they did in the election Provided a strong leader to keep control over the country in an emergency Provided a strong leader to keep control over the country in an emergency Each state had its own assembly to represent local interests Each state had its own assembly to represent local interests

Disadvantages It was too radical an experiment given the volatile nature of German society after the war It was too radical an experiment given the volatile nature of German society after the war PR encouraged lots of small parties so no one party ever had enough seats to form a majority government PR encouraged lots of small parties so no one party ever had enough seats to form a majority government The president could use Article 48 to become a dictator The president could use Article 48 to become a dictator Local states could resist the authority of central government Local states could resist the authority of central government

 Your task Study the information on p.11. Note down the 3 major parties which didn’t support the new Weimar democracy Study the information on p.11. Note down the 3 major parties which didn’t support the new Weimar democracy Note down the reasons why they disliked the Weimar Republic Note down the reasons why they disliked the Weimar Republic  If you were Ebert, which parties would you work with and how would you convince your opponents to support your policies?  If you were Ebert, which parties would you work with and how would you convince your opponents to support your policies?

Opponents Communist Party (KPD) – wanted communist country, opposed to parliament not people running Germany Communist Party (KPD) – wanted communist country, opposed to parliament not people running Germany National People’s Party (DNVP) – wanted strong government led by a kaiser or a single, strong leader National People’s Party (DNVP) – wanted strong government led by a kaiser or a single, strong leader National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) – opposed democracy, thought Weimar too weak, e.g. against communism National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) – opposed democracy, thought Weimar too weak, e.g. against communism

 Your task Exam-style question: ‘Describe the problems the Weimar Republic faced’ Exam-style question: ‘Describe the problems the Weimar Republic faced’

Level 1Level 2Level 3 Mentions one problem Mentions one problem in depth Or Mentions two or more problems, but lacks depth Mentions a full range of problems, e.g. Weaknesses of Weimar Constitution Challenges it faced from political parties e.g. KPD and NAZIS Violence – dependence on Freikorps to maintain la and order Criticism of Ebert that reforms didn’t go far enough

Plenary Plenary Key words: constitution Weimar Freikorps Key words: constitution Weimar Freikorps Advantages with Weimar Constitution? Advantages with Weimar Constitution? Disadvantages? Disadvantages? Problems facing Ebert? Problems facing Ebert?  Why was Ebert able to cling on to power?  Why was Ebert able to cling on to power?