1. This was a political cartoon that was made in 1898 showing the most powerful leaders in Europe at the time.
It shows Britain (represented by Queen Victoria), Germany (represented by Kaiser Wilhelm II), along with France and Italy discussing how they might divide up China.
So what were Wilhelm II’s aims here?
What would he want with places like China?
How will he go about achieving this?

2. Why did Germany want a bigger navy?
Learning Objective:
To explain change over time in Germany

3. Key words:
Weltpolitik = ‘world policy’ – Germany’s aggressive foreign policy intended to increase Germany’s influence
Arms race = competition between nations to develop the most superior weapons

4. To Wilhelm II a large powerful navy was essential to his ambitions for Germany.
In addition to expanding the size of the German army, he wanted to develop a navy that could match the British Royal Navy.
It was Admiral von Tirpitz who argued that Germany needed large battleships that could compete with those of Britain.
Success over the British navy would ensure that Germany could achieve world power for itself.
A large ship-building programme would frighten the British government which would then be more amenable to Germany gaining colonies and trade overseas.

5. The First Navy Law was passed in 1898, in spite of opposition from the Conservative Party and the Social democrat party. The law allowed for the addition of seven battleships, which would be built in the next three years in addition to the twelve Germany already possessed. These extra battleships would not be enough to match either the British or the French navies, but this law marked a turning point in German foreign policy.
In 1900, during the Boer War conflict in South Africa, the Second Naval Law was passed. The German government took the opportunity to sympathise with the Boers, who were fighting against the British. This Second Naval Law doubled the size of the fleet to 38 battleships. It was clear that the German navy was not just patrolling the coastlines; it saw its primary objective as rivalling the British navy. In Germany the policy had the effect of encouraging imperialist attitudes and a fear of British ambitions.
In the early 1900s, more Naval Laws were passed in the Reichstag, increasing the size of the navy slightly and illustrating its importance. International crises encouraged the belief among many Germans that Britain had ambitions to be even more powerful and that its policy was to deny German ambitions to become a colonial empire. Therefore, from 1902 onwards an Anglo-German naval arms race developed.

6. Why did the Kaiser pass the Naval Laws?
He believed the Navy was key to his ambitions to make Germany powerful.
His army leaders also reminded him that the army would bee important in future conflicts so the armed forces needed to be maintained as well.

7. Why were the Navy Laws introduced?
Task 2:
Why were the Navy Laws introduced?
What part did they play in Weltpolitik?

8. Plenary: Just a minute!
You must describe what you have learnt in this lesson in 1 minute!
You must not stutter or repeat any of your points and you must continue speaking for the whole minute.
If you stutter, say ‘erm’ or repeat any points then you are out.
You must describe:
The Navy Laws of 1898 and 1900
Why the laws were introduced and what part they played in Weltpolitik and
Whether the Navy Laws were just the Kaiser’s obsession or not?

9. How strong was autocratic rule in Germany by 1914?
Focused revision activity:
How strong was autocratic rule in Germany by 1914?
Create your own spider-diagram like below to assess the strength of autocratic rule in Germany. (Use your exercise books/pages of the textbook).
On one side of your diagram, in one colour, add points that show that the Kaiser had full control and that autocracy was strong in Germany.
On the other side, in a different colour, note the factors that were threatening to weaken autocracy.
Once you have completed your diagram, write a paragraph to sum up the strength of autocratic rule in Germany by (Answer the question above).
Strength of traditional, autocratic rule