Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit pupils undergo a period study that provides an unfolding narrative which tells a story about a period that shaped the world we live in today. They look at the key events, developments, people and stories that defined the chosen period.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explain why the Navy Laws were so significant in Germany before the First World War.

Key Notes

• Wilhelm II replaced Bismarck's cautious diplomacy with expansionist Weltpolitik for a global empire.
• Germany sought to build a navy to rival Britain's Royal Navy and secure overseas colonies.
• Admiral Tirpitz used the Navy League to rally public support and pressure the Reichstag to fund expansion.
• Weltpolitik and the Navy Laws expanded Germany's fleet, boosted national pride and won the Kaiser parliamentary support.
• Weltpolitik and naval expansion increased debt, fuelled tensions with Britain and deepened political divisions at home.

Vocabulary To Learn

• colonies: overseas territories controlled by a more powerful country
• Weltpolitik: meaning 'world policy'; Germany's plan to expand overseas and achieve global power status
• navy: a country's military force at sea, including warships and related personnel
• nationalism: the belief that people who share the same language, culture, history or ethnicity should unite in one country; many believe this would create greater unity, strength and harmony within the nation
• militarism: the belief that a strong military and military values should dominate society and government

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• The Kaiser could simply order naval expansion without resistance.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• 1923, the Ruhr and hyperinflation Study Guide
• Early unrest and the Treaty of Versailles Study Guide
• Economic recovery under Stresemann Study Guide
• Employment in Nazi Germany Study Guide
• Germany before the First World War Study Guide
• Goebbels and propaganda in Nazi Germany Study Guide
• Hitler's creation of a dictatorship Study Guide
• How Hitler became Chancellor of Germany Study Guide
• Industrialisation, social reform and the growth of socialism Study Guide
• Nazi racial ideology and the treatment of minorities Study Guide
• Opposition and resistance to Hitler and the Nazi Party Study Guide
• Stresemann's international achievements Study Guide
• The Final Solution Study Guide
• The First World War and the German Revolution Study Guide
• The growth in support for the Nazi Party Study Guide
• The growth of unemployment and rise in support for the Communist Party Study Guide
• The Nazi economy and WW2 Study Guide
• The Nazi Party and religion Study Guide
• The Nazi police state Study Guide
• The persecution of Jews Study Guide
• The putsches of 1919-23 Study Guide
• The Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act Study Guide
• The Weimar Republic Study Guide
• Weimar culture 1924-29 Study Guide
• Women in Nazi Germany Study Guide
• Work and life in Nazi Germany Study Guide
• Young people in Nazi Germany Study Guide