SWBAT: IDENTIFY WHY THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC FAILED. HOMEWORK: NONE DO NOW: SIT WHERE YOU LIKE. READ YOUR BIO AND BE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR NEW IDENTITY. GERMANY UNDER THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC

GERMANY’S GOVERNMENT BEFORE WWI Before 1919 Germany had been – under Kaiser Wilhelm II – virtually a dictatorship. There was a Reichstag (a parliament), but it could not make laws. The Kaiser did all that. But WWI changed everything. As Germany sank into defeat, the government fell apart.

THE CREATION OF THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC After a short period of political chaos, the members of the Reichstag met and set up a new government in February 1919 called the Weimar Republic. it did not have a king and was instead a democracy. For a while, it worked. It had a Bill of Rights to protect the freedoms of the people, and it gave the vote to all men and women over the age of 21. The people elected the Reichstag, which appointed the government and made the laws. The Republic had a President – Frederick Ebert – and he was elected too.

PROBLEMS WITH THE NEW GOVERNMENT Hyperinflation cost Germans their life savings. Constitution was ineffective. i.e.: Article 48: Gave the president sole power in ‘times of emergency’. 28 political parties fought for power, making it impossible for one party to have a majority and as a result, no laws were passed. German states had too much power and often ignored demands from the federal government. Army was not fully under the gov’t’s control. Twice the Germans attempted to overthrow the government. Extremists blamed minority groups for problems. The people were ready for a change.

ACTIVITY We’re going to try and replicate the election of 1932 in Germany. Step 1: Write the name of this citizen in the space provided and complete Part 2 of your handout. Discuss your concerns and hopes for Germany’s future with your fellow German citizens. Complete Part 3 of your handout by taking notes on the concerns and hopes of the citizens you hear. Now we get to vote.

VOTING Come up to the front and read each party’s platform poster carefully. You have 3 options: National Socialist German Workers Party Social Democratic Party of Germany Communist Party of Germany “Cast your ballot” by placing a post-it on the party’s poster whom you feel should govern Germany. Fill out Part 4.

DISCUSSION After the results are tallied, we will go over the actual results. Who are you and who did you vote for and why? Flip to the back page. Who won the actual election of 1932? What was the change from the previous election? Looking at your chart on page 3, how would you describe the Nazi Party’s popularity over the ~ten year period? Why do you think the Nazi Party ultimately won the election? Answer Part 5 on your own.