Extracts from this document...

Introduction

History Essay.. Roman.. The political establishment in Germany succeeded in maintaining the status quo through a policy of moderate reform . ?How far do you agree with this assessment 1900-1914?? The political establishment of Germany succeeded in maintaining status quo mainly through a policy of moderate reform however other factors such as the fact that the Kaiser had control over the military played a significant role in maintaining status quo. Status quo was maintained through various means of moderate reform. This included the 1899 old age and invalidity act which increased pensions and introduced compulsory insurance. Another example is the 1903 Sickness insurance Act giving greater help to workers as it gave them over 26 weeks off work for illness. Furthermore the 1908 Factory act restricted work anyone under the age of 13 and introduced a 6 hour day for anyone aged between 13 and 14 and a 10 hour day for 15 year olds. ...read more.

Middle

Other moderate reforms included seizing polish lands and in turn helping landless German peasants. The Imperial Insurance code introduced in 1911 consolidated all previous laws and passed laws in Alsace Lorraine giving them a two chamber parliament and universal suffrage. These examples show that the German government aimed to keep status quo without introducing large scale reforms. This meant that sure that the workers were happier but did not have any greater democracy or voice. For example, the constituencies remained unreformed from 1871 although this was mainly in conservative dominated areas but nevertheless helped to maintain the status quo. Overall the workers were not given the opportunity to exert their influence or to even demand more changes since despite the SPD being the biggest party meaning the governments moderate reforms were extremely successful. On the other hand the army was loyal to the Kaiser and was large enough to neutralise any possible uprisings by the peasants meaning that perhaps the reforms were unnecessary since people would have been afraid to go against the will of the Kaiser because of the army. ...read more.

Conclusion

For example Some reforms may be considered more than moderate such as the annexations of land in Poland and some reforms in the south where some states such as Bavaria and Baden operating as more democratic than central states since there were direct elections meaning reform was only moderate in some areas. Essentially the power of the Kaiser and the conservative politics as well as the military meant that these reforms essentially could not have led to any significant political change despite things improving in some areas. In conclusion the political establishment in Germany did succeed in maintaining status quo most importantly through a series of moderate reform but a contributing factor was the strength and obedience of the army to the Kaiser and the strength of the current government although this was the least important factor. This means that although moderate reforms discouraged further reform by appeasing the peasants / working classes so as to make them unwilling to strive towards further reform, possible socialist uprisings were discouraged by the army. This combination maintained the status quo. ...read more.

This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our AS and A Level Modern European History, 1789-1945 section.