HISTORY IGCSE REVISION CARDS - 009. THE WEIMAR CONSTITUTION DOOMED THE REPUBLIC TO FAILURE.

1. ‘THE WEIMAR CONSTITUTION DOOMED THE
REPUBLIC TO FAILURE.’ HOW FAR DO YOU AGREE?
MAIN ARGUMENT
The Constitution introduced proportional representation which
led to many elected parties. This meant it was difficult for any
party to maintain a workable parliamentary majority. It meant
there were frequent changes in the government/many elections
and the governments elected were therefore weak. When faced
with difficult circumstances, such as during the Depression,
they found it difficult to agree on a plan of action.
OPPOSITE ARGUMENT
The Weimar Republic was not automatically doomed to
failure. It faced severe economic problems. Germany was
bankrupt from the war and the French invasion of the Ruhr led
to a hyperinflation crisis. The Republic survived these
challenges with the help of American Loans through the
Dawes Plan in 1924 (negotiated and agreed by Stresemann)
and the reissue of the German currency (Rentenmark). From
1924 to 1929 the German economy began to recover, and the
republic seemed to be doing well. Everything went wrong
when Wall Street collapsed in 1929 and the US recalled their
loans. This is what led to the failure of the Weimar Republic.