Chapter 1 to 3
what was an impact of democracy on policymaking of Britain and France?
The ruling political parties could not ignore public opinion and stay in power; the public mood
and the press could, and often did, influence policymaking
What was the political structure of Britain?
-hereditary monarchy with limited power (had the right to be consulted, to encourage and to
warn, was more of a figure-head)
-governed by parliament led by a prime minister
-strong system of representative government
-limited suffrage to 5.5 million men
What was the political structure of France?
-ruling party changed frequently in the 1800s (no fewer than 10 different ministers in the 1890s):
unstable domestic and foreign policies
-republic (no monarch)
-president head of state, wielded executive power and commanded the army, re-elected every 7
years
What are Autocracies?
The power of the absolute monarch (Austro-Hungarian emperor and Russian tsar) was almost
unlimited by constitutions or strong parliaments.
-They appointed ministers of their choice
-there was no legal means to remove them from the throne
What was the political structure of Russia?
-Autocratic
-Tsars refused to grant political reform that would limit their power despite increasing pressure
-less strict autocracy Alexander II
-Tsars resisted pressure for more political power at a national level (Alexander II's successors
saw his assassination as a warning against changing the status quo)
What was Russia like under the Tsar's autocratic rule?
-several opposition groups, from liberals to marxists, had emerged seeking a decisive change in
Russia's political structure
-political assassinations increased
-Tsars relied on the secret police force
What was the political structure of Austria-Hungary?
-Dual monarchy since 1867
-the 2 states shared the same foreign policy and army and shared a budget for the army
-the 2 states had separate parliaments and ministers which resulted in slow negotiation over
issues that affected both states
, What was the political structure of Germany?
-surprisingly liberal constitution as approval for laws needed from Kaiser, chancellor and the
lower and upper houses of parliament
-elections to Reichstag held every 3 years
-all men over 25 could vote
-hereditary monarch, the Kaiser (responsible for foreign policy and appointed chancellor)
What changes occured under the accession of Kaiser Wilhelm II?
-more influence over affairs of state
-uninterested in Reichstag and public opinion
-greater influence of the military than in Britain
-unpredictable policymaking and diplomacy
What were the characteristics of the most successful economies in the 1800s since the
Industrial Revolution?
-plenty of raw materials
-strong population growth = large workforce
-efficient mechanized methods of production
-good infrastructures for transportation
Why was Britain's dominance in world trade challenged in the 1900s?
-other countries such as France, Germany, Russia sought their share of lucrative materials from
new colonies in Africa
-production levels could not compete with the larger workforces and better access to raw
materials of the USA and Germany (Germany had a population of 15 million more than Britain)
-failure to develop new technologically advanced industries
What brought about the boom of the German economy in 1890-1900?
-substantial increase in population provided ready workforce and larger market for goods
-new colonies gained in the 1880s and 90s provided access to raw materials and markets
(Alsace-Lorraine for coal from 1871)
-reintroduction of tariffs in 1878, protectionism
-unification: share materials across whole state, easier transport, common currency making
business transactions easier
What were the economic reforms in Russia in the 1890s-1900?
-railway building programme where the network expanded dramatically
-small scale development of factories
-expanding heavy industry, brought in engineers and managers from the west
-tariff act of 1891
what was an impact of democracy on policymaking of Britain and France?
The ruling political parties could not ignore public opinion and stay in power; the public mood
and the press could, and often did, influence policymaking
What was the political structure of Britain?
-hereditary monarchy with limited power (had the right to be consulted, to encourage and to
warn, was more of a figure-head)
-governed by parliament led by a prime minister
-strong system of representative government
-limited suffrage to 5.5 million men
What was the political structure of France?
-ruling party changed frequently in the 1800s (no fewer than 10 different ministers in the 1890s):
unstable domestic and foreign policies
-republic (no monarch)
-president head of state, wielded executive power and commanded the army, re-elected every 7
years
What are Autocracies?
The power of the absolute monarch (Austro-Hungarian emperor and Russian tsar) was almost
unlimited by constitutions or strong parliaments.
-They appointed ministers of their choice
-there was no legal means to remove them from the throne
What was the political structure of Russia?
-Autocratic
-Tsars refused to grant political reform that would limit their power despite increasing pressure
-less strict autocracy Alexander II
-Tsars resisted pressure for more political power at a national level (Alexander II's successors
saw his assassination as a warning against changing the status quo)
What was Russia like under the Tsar's autocratic rule?
-several opposition groups, from liberals to marxists, had emerged seeking a decisive change in
Russia's political structure
-political assassinations increased
-Tsars relied on the secret police force
What was the political structure of Austria-Hungary?
-Dual monarchy since 1867
-the 2 states shared the same foreign policy and army and shared a budget for the army
-the 2 states had separate parliaments and ministers which resulted in slow negotiation over
issues that affected both states
, What was the political structure of Germany?
-surprisingly liberal constitution as approval for laws needed from Kaiser, chancellor and the
lower and upper houses of parliament
-elections to Reichstag held every 3 years
-all men over 25 could vote
-hereditary monarch, the Kaiser (responsible for foreign policy and appointed chancellor)
What changes occured under the accession of Kaiser Wilhelm II?
-more influence over affairs of state
-uninterested in Reichstag and public opinion
-greater influence of the military than in Britain
-unpredictable policymaking and diplomacy
What were the characteristics of the most successful economies in the 1800s since the
Industrial Revolution?
-plenty of raw materials
-strong population growth = large workforce
-efficient mechanized methods of production
-good infrastructures for transportation
Why was Britain's dominance in world trade challenged in the 1900s?
-other countries such as France, Germany, Russia sought their share of lucrative materials from
new colonies in Africa
-production levels could not compete with the larger workforces and better access to raw
materials of the USA and Germany (Germany had a population of 15 million more than Britain)
-failure to develop new technologically advanced industries
What brought about the boom of the German economy in 1890-1900?
-substantial increase in population provided ready workforce and larger market for goods
-new colonies gained in the 1880s and 90s provided access to raw materials and markets
(Alsace-Lorraine for coal from 1871)
-reintroduction of tariffs in 1878, protectionism
-unification: share materials across whole state, easier transport, common currency making
business transactions easier
What were the economic reforms in Russia in the 1890s-1900?
-railway building programme where the network expanded dramatically
-small scale development of factories
-expanding heavy industry, brought in engineers and managers from the west
-tariff act of 1891
