Was the Weimar Republic doomed from the start?
It had a promising beginning:
A constitution guaranteeing federal rights, seven year presidential terms and proportional representation was passed in Weimar on the 19th July 1919.
This should have meant a good foundation for democracy and sound government. Article 48 stopped (in theory) the major politicians from arguing. It was supported by the Big 3 world Superpowers (Great Britain, USA and France). The Constitution meant that everyone as politically accountable within quite an advanced political structure which seemed to promise true democracy.
And yet it was also based on flimsy foundations.
It had accepted the validity of the hugely unpopular Versailles Treaty which ended the First World War this meant that it accepted as law the large amount of reparations imposed on Germany as instigator of the conflict. This led to financial and economic weakness underpinned by political unpopularity with the people. It was......
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Approximate Pages: 4 (260 words per double-spaced page) |