What type of government did Kaiser Wilhelm have?

Before the war, Germany was a constitutional monarchy with a Kaiser, Wilhelm II, and a parliament elected by adult males who held the right to vote. There were two main political themes in this period: Wilhelm was determined to turn his nation into a world power.

How much power did the Kaiser have?

The Emperor (Kaiser) – Head of the armed forces, controlled foreign policy, and appointed the Chancellor.

Did the German emperor have power?

Article 11 stated that the emperor had the power to declare war (and make peace), represent the Empire abroad, conclude treaties and alliances, and accredit and receive ambassadors.

When did Kaiser Wilhelm II come to power?

1888
Emperor and King: 1888 Wilhelm succeeded his father on June 15, 1888, at the age of 29. Within two years of his coronation, Wilhelm broke with Otto von Bismarck (1815-98), the “Iron Chancellor” who had dominated German politics since the 1860s.

When did Kaiser Wilhelm come to power?

The reign of Kaiser Wilhelm II as King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany from 1888 to 1918 saw the meteoric rise of Germany as an economic and military power.

When was Kaiser Wilhelm II in power?

William II, German Wilhelm II, in full Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert, (born January 27, 1859, Potsdam, near Berlin [Germany]—died June 4, 1941, Doorn, Netherlands), German emperor (kaiser) and king of Prussia from 1888 to the end of World War I in 1918, known for his frequently militaristic manner as well as for his …

What was Kaiser Wilhelm II role in ww1?

With World War I under way, the kaiser, as commander in chief of the German armed forces, retained the power to make upper-level changes in military command. Nonetheless, he was largely a shadow monarch during the war, useful to his generals as a public-relations figure who toured the front lines and handed out medals.

How did King Wilhelm II become king of Germany?

With the death of Wilhelm’s grandfather in March 1888, his father became German Emperor and King of Prussia as Frederick III. Frederick himself died in June of that year, and Wilhelm II ascended the throne. In March 1890, he dismissed the German Empire’s powerful longtime chancellor, Otto von Bismarck .

What happened to Kaiser Wilhelm’s father?

Wilhelm’s father became Kaiser Frederick III of Germany in March 1888. Already ill with terminal throat cancer, he died after a reign of only several months.

What kind of person was Wilhelm II?

An intelligent young man who possessed a lifelong interest in science and technology, Wilhelm was educated at the University of Bonn. His quick mind, however, was combined with an even quicker temper and an impulsive, high-strung personality.

What did Bismarck predict about Wilhelm II?

Bismarck bitterly predicted that Wilhelm would lead Germany to ruin. Wilhelm damaged his political position in a number of ways. He meddled in German foreign policy on the basis of his emotions, resulting in incoherence and inconsistency in German relations with other nations.