Sep 02, 2015 this temporary government organised elections for a national assembly on 19th january 1919. Constitution of the international labour organisation ilo refworld. The weimar constitution was drafted in 1919 and passed by the national assembly in august that year. The reich constitution of august 11th 1919 weimar constitution with modifications 1 the german people, united in its tribes and inspirited with the will to renew and strengthen its reich in liberty and justice, to serve peace inward and outward and to promote social progress, has adapted this constitution. In 1919 german had just got rid of one system of government. The weimar constitution formalized the replacement, which had taken place as a result of the november bourgeois democratic revolution, of the semiabsolutist. On august 11, 1919, friedrich ebert, a member of the social democratic party and the provisional president of the german reichstag government, signs a new. The constitution technically remained in effect during the third reich from 1933 to 1945 the german states official name was deutsches reich until the. Essentially, it made germany one of the most democratic countries in the world, and emphasised the necessity of civil liberties and freedom of speech. Articles 1097 of the weimar constitution provided germans with their basic rights. The weimar constitution had democratic elements but unreformed institutions and the balance of power which favoured the elites ensured that full.
The german people, united in all their racial elements, and inspired by the will to renew and strengthen their reich in liberty and justice, to preserve peace at home and abroad and to foster. Weimar constitution of 1919 the constitution of germany drawn up by the weimar constituent assembly of 1919. The constitution of the kingdom of the netherlands. Powerpoint for a lesson on the weimar constitution. Article 48 also gave the president emergency decree powers to protect the republic from crises initiated by its opponents on either the left or the right. In this section, find primary sources representing the political landscape of the weimar republic, including political party platforms, political party posters, world war i, and the treaty of versailles. The other laws and ordinances of the reich shall remain in force in so far as. This power was understood to include the promulgation of emergency decrees notverordnungen. For example in the introduction of proportional representation. The history of the german basic law is unique as it originated after wwii and was based on the influence of occupying foreign nations. The german people, united in all their racial elements and inspired by the will to renew and strengthen their reich in liberty and justice, to preserve peace at home and abroad, and to promote social progress, have established the following constitution. In 1919, communist workers councils seized power all over germany, and a communist peoples government took power in bavaria. Find out information about weimar constitution of 1919. The will of eberts first president in february 1919.
In 1920, after the failure of the kapp putsch, a paramilitary group called the red army rebelled in the ruhr. The weimar constitution influenced by democratic ideas of gb and the us. In 1919, the communists tried to overthrow the democratic republic, and in 1920 and 1923, there were attempts by rightwing nationalists, including adolf hitler, to seize power. The signing of the weimar republics constitution history. Includes activity ideas and a simple structure of the constitution graphic good when used in conjunction with a similar card sort activity.
The constitution of the german empire of august 11, 1919 weimar constitution. The republics first president, friedrich ebert, signed the new german constitution into law on 11 august 1919. The constitution technically remained in effect during the third reich from 1933 to 1945. For the constitution of the grand duchy of finland, see swedish constitution of 1772.
The weimar constitution was generous with civil rights. See also history of the ilo a selective bibliography pdf 234 kb. The constitution was primarily written by a committee led hugo preuss, a legal and political theorist, with influential ideas being contributed by robert redslob and max weber see mommsen, 1984. The constitution is named after weimar although it was signed into law by friedrich ebert in schwarzburg. What are the major weaknesses and why are they weaknesses. Finnish constitution in english pdf last accessed 17022018. The constitution was adopted on july 31, 1919, and became effective on aug. Aug 18, 2019 the constitution of the german reich of april 16, 1871, and the law relating to the provisional powers of the reich of february 10, 1919, are hereby annulled. The constitution of the german reich august 11, 1919. The weimar constitution 1919 extracts from the weimar constitution, passed in august 1919. The new constitution attempted to blend the european parliamentary system with the american presidential system. The weimar constitution essay the weimar constitution in january 1919 hugo preuss, whom was a left wing liberal set out to make a constitution, which was drawn up and submitted to the national assembly in weimar.
Weimar germany, 1918191933 the constitution of the german empire of august 11, 1919 weimar constitution preamble. Weimar republics new constitution was adopted in august 1919. The main features of the weimar constitution papers. How do you believe a government operating under the weimar constitution would handle dissenters. The document is a typewritten copy of good to adequate quality. The constitution was adopted on july 31, 1919, and became effective on aug explanation of weimar constitution of 1919. Articles 119123 make marriage, motherhood and child welfare into keystones of the new republic. The original text of the constitution, established in 1919, has been modified by the. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
It will not be less than 5 bills, on 3rd january 1919 to august 31, 1919, that the constitution was finally adopted. The signing of the weimar republics constitution gcse and igcse history revision, podcasts, international relations 19191939 the weimar republic was officially established on 11 th august 1919, when friedrich ebert signed the new constitution into law. At the end of the first world war, the kaiser was kicked out of germany, and in 1919 the weimar republic was set up. Article 48 of the constitution of the weimar republic of germany 19191933 allowed the president, under certain circumstances, to take emergency measures without the prior consent of the reichstag. The weimar republic what was the weimar constitution.
Yad vashem photo archive 425480 the weimar republic and the rise of the nazi party. Apr 18, 2011 powerpoint for a lesson on the weimar constitution. The german people, united in all their racial elements, and inspired. These disagreements were resolved by august 1919, though sixtyseven delegates abstained from voting to adopt the weimar constitution. The constitution was a brave attempt to set up a democratic government all germans had equal rights, including the vote. The new constitution was signed into law by the assembly on 11th august 1919 thus the weimar republic was born. The weimar constitution a national assembly met in the town of weimar in 1919, to establish a constitution for the new german republic. The winners met on 6th february 1919 to create a new constitution. Adopted by the peace conference in april 1919, the ilo constitution became part xiii of the treaty of versailles 28 june 1919. Weimar constitution simple english wikipedia, the free. Between 1919 and 1933 there was no single name for the new state that gained widespread acceptance, which is precisely why the old name deutsches reich. What were the reasons the weimar republic was unstable in. This constitution became the basis for the weimar republics troubled and often unstable political system. On august 11, 1919, friedrich ebert, a member of the social democratic party and the provisional president of the german reichstag government, signs a new constitution, known as the weimar constitution, into law, officially creating the first parliamentary democracy in germany.
Many historians put the blame for weimars future political problems on this constitution in that, ironically, it was too fair as it included everybody regardless of their political beliefs. While the reich government still existed in theory after the war, the institutions of the german government were completely. The weimar constitution in january 1919 hugo preuss, whom was a left wing liberal set out to make a constitution, which was drawn up and submitted to the national assembly in weimar. Historian william carr says, preuss set out to combine democracy and parliamentary government with a high degree of centralisation for the left wing which. A constitution is a set of written laws that say what the government can and cannot do, and how it will work. Consequently, the constitution was based upon proportional representation. The overall aim was to try to prevent one party seizing power as had happened in the years before the first world war. In 191923, extremists on both the left especially the. What were the main features of the weimar constitution. The german people, united in its tribes and inspirited with the will to.
It provided for equality before the law, and stated explicitly that men and women have the rights and duties as citizens to this day, the u. The original constitution act was enacted in 1919, soon after finland declared its. Articles 2022 describe the nature of the reichstag and the new voting system and those eligible to vote. Perhaps the greatest danger was the weakness within the constitution gave the president, the states and the army too much power, whilst proportional voting meant that the reichstag was divided and weak. So, the weimar republic is the government system that germany was under during that time. Weimar republics constitution history learning site. The weimar constitution attempted to create a federal republic, which tried to combine aspects of presidential and parliamentary systems with a commitment to social justice. Dutch nationality shall be regulated by act of parliament. The constitution declared germany to be a democratic parliamentary republic with a legislature elected under proportional representation. The constitution declared germany to be a democratic parliamentary republic. Between 1919 and 1933 there was no single name for the new state that gained widespread acceptance, which is precisely why the old name deutsches.
The other laws and ordinances of the reich shall remain in force in so far as they are not in conflict with this constitution. It took until june 1919 for the allies to agree on a peace treaty. Environmental education resources to commemorate earth days 50th anniversary. The treaty of versailles and the weimar constitution were written in 1919 with expert advice from john maynard keynes and max weber respectively. Documents of the important jurist digitized by the university of marburg. The constitution of the german reich usually known as the weimar constitution weimarer verfassung, was the constitution that governed germany during the weimar republic era 19191933. The weimar constitution the constitution was published in july 1919. This is because ebert was on holiday in schwarzburg, while the parliament working out the constitution was gathered in weimar. In jan 1919, 50,000 spartacists rebelled in berlin, led by rosa luxemburg and karl leibknecht. Lesson examining the constitution and government of the weimar republic including comparison activity for germany in 1914 and 1919, and explanation of.
It technically remained in effect throughout the existence. The weimar republic of 1919 characterised the struggle and failure to establish democracy in germany following world war one. Whereas the draft constitution was submitted to the people at a referendum from the. Explain the strengths and weaknesses of the weimar republics constitution 8 marks what are the main strengths and why they are strengths. Political economics and the weimar disaster by roger b. The german people had hoped for a fair and reasonable treaty that would bring peace to europe. The weimar constitution provided for a popularly elected president who was given considerable power over foreign policy and the armed forces. Before 1914, the government of germany had been a military autocracy. Includes activity ideas and a simple structure of the constitution graphic good when used in. Its hard to point out one particular reason why the weimar republic was so unstable. Theconstitutionwasdrawnupbyacommitteeheadedbyhugopreussit. Oct 22, 2011 lesson examining the constitution and government of the weimar republic including comparison activity for germany in 1914 and 1919, and explanation of proportional representation. Article 73 adds the concept of a referendum to the constitution. While this constitution did have some clear strengths, such as a bill of rights ensuring all.
Sep 15, 2019 the weimar constitution was drafted in 1919 and passed by the national assembly in august that year. The ministry of the reichswehr or reich ministry of defence german. Remote work advice from the largest allremote company. The present work is aimed at describing the weimar constitution of 1919 and describe other important aspects of it, which are aimed at general aspects, the main foundations that are very momentous to take a broad view of the causes and consequences. Most countries have rules for how they are to be governed. Permanent labour organization, constitution and rules geneva. Despite possessing nearidentical elements required to govern as successfully as the federal republic of 1945, the. The reich constitution of august 11th 1919 weimar constitution with modifications 1. Reichswehrministerium was the defence ministry of the weimar republic and the early third reich. Weimar constitution wikisource, the free online library. The weimar republic is so called because the assembly that adopted its constitution met at weimar, germany, from 6 february 1919 to 11 august 1919, but this name only became mainstream after 1933.
This temporary government organised elections for a national assembly on 19th january 1919. Weimar constitution 1919 constitutional interpretation constitutional processes principles and objectives of constitutions published under the direction of the max planck foundation for international peace and the rule of law. Mar 12, 2016 in the wake of wwi, germany sought a new system of government, and drafted the weimar constitution. The admission and expulsion of aliens shall be regulated by act of.
The 1919 weimar constitution provided for a unified, national ministry of defence to coordinate the new reichswehr, and that ministry was set up in october 1919, from the existing prussian war ministry and. The treaty of versailles limited germany in many ways in requiring the country to pay reparations to the winning parties of wo. The first president of the republic was friedrich ebert, and he helped decide what the constitution should be like. However, ebert was committed to democracy and the new constitution had his full support. The german people, united in all their racial elements and inspired by the will to renew and strengthen their reich in liberty and justice, to preserve peace at home and abroad, and to promote social progress, have established the following. In the wake of wwi, germany sought a new system of government, and drafted the weimar constitution. The 1949 constitution, which today governs germany, is a slightly amended version of west germanys 1949 constitution.
The following are excerpts from the weimar constitution. Hitlers subversion of the constitution under article 48 thus had. The constitution of the german reich, usually known as the weimar constitution was the constitution that governed germany during the weimar republic 19191933. Excerpts from the weimar constitution facing history and. The republic lasted years the world in 1933 was very different to 1919, so there was no simplistic causeandeffect. The weimar republic primary sources facing history and. Proposals for the new constitution were influenced by the democratic ideas of britain and the usa but took into account germanys circumstances and traditions. Due to unrest in berlin, the assembly met in weimar. Article 48 also gave the president emergency decree powers to protect the republic from crises initiated by. On august 11, 1919, friedrich ebert, a member of the social democratic party and the provisional president of the german reichstag government, signs a. The weimar republics opinion was not requested in their discussions in versailles, france. After the set up of a new government, germany needed support to maintain their democracy.
1558 999 104 9 1559 597 1180 131 1552 1405 1506 1257 88 404 1092 469 325 1307 70 1476 34 412 915 976 1029 1002 1280 916 8 429 776 876 691 368 1301 699 1287 231 1048 528 145 529 502