Kaiser Wilhelm II

7.9.22

Notes

● Kaiser Wilhelm II was the grandson of Queen Victoria.

● Kaiser II was like the emperor of Germany.
● The German Empire was created in 1871 and lasted until 1918.
● Kaiser II ruled from 1888 until 1918.
● The Kaiser [ emperor ] was always the most powerful figure in government and rules
like a king. He has control over the army and foreign policy; the chancellor;
Bundersrat [ representatives of the German state ]; and Reichstag [ parliament ].
● The chancellor has the most power after the Kaiser. Then Bundesrat; after the
Reichstag.
● Kaiser II didn’t believe in democracy and relied more on the military.
● He used them to influence power.
● Kaiser II wanted to make Germany the world’s power and believed in the traditional
class system, where the upper classes held more power.
● In the early 20th century, Germany’s economy modernized; production of iron and
steel doubled and the working classes held more power.