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 describe the strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Republic's constitution.

Key Notes

• The new Weimar Republic was a representative democracy with several strengths and weaknesses.
• The new constitution allowed all adults over 20 to vote and used proportional representation.
• Divided power between branches of government caused delays, leading to the creation of Article 48 for emergencies.
• Proportional representation caused fragmented coalitions, making it hard to govern and faced opposition from all sides.
• Article 48 gave the President powers to act without parliament's approval in an emergency.

Vocabulary To Learn

• proportional representation: a political system in which parties are represented in parliament according to the number of people who voted for them
• constitution: a set of laws on how a country is run / governed
• coalition: the joining together of different political parties in order to achieve a majority and form a government
• moderate: a person whose opinions are not extreme and are therefore acceptable to a large number of people

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Proportional representation was purely a positive step forward because it gave a voice to smaller political parties.

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
• Germany's naval ambitions 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
• 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