Birth of the Weimar Republic

Proportional representation could make coalition governments weak. Exam tip: connect it with political instability.

In democracy people elect representatives. Exam tip: treat voting rights as a sign of democracy.

Defeat and the treaty increased humiliation in German society. Exam tip: connect public feeling with political crisis.

The Weimar Constitution adopted a federal structure. Exam tip: remember both democratic and federal features.

Many forces did not like the new democratic system. Exam tip: see acceptance of democracy as a challenge.

The harsh terms of the treaty increased anger in Germany. Exam tip: remember both guilt and reparations.

The treaty limited German military power. Exam tip: treat military restrictions as terms of the treaty.

The Rhineland was made a demilitarised area. Exam tip: connect it with military terms of Versailles.

Opponents blamed Weimar leaders for the treaty. Exam tip: understand the politics of blame.

The Weimar Republic gave Germany a democratic direction. Exam tip: treat change of rule as the main point.

Weimar's weakness gave Nazi propaganda an opportunity. Exam tip: remember the link between crisis and Nazi rise.

The Weimar Republic was Germany's new democratic system. Exam tip: remember the link between country and chapter.

The Weimar Republic was established in Germany after the First World War, when the old imperial system had collapsed. Its leaders therefore inherited a country facing military defeat, the burden of war-related payments and economic disruption, and deep political mistrust. Many people blamed the new democratic government for accepting the peace settlement, even though it had not caused the war. These conditions made the republic appear weak to many citizens. Hence option A is correct.

The difficult legacy was not prosperity, overseas expansion, or universal political agreement. Germany experienced shortages, debt, inflation and later serious unemployment, while political groups on both the left and right challenged parliamentary democracy. The leaders had to build a new constitution under these pressures and defend it against opponents. Therefore the combination of war defeat, economic burden and political mistrust best describes the circumstances surrounding the birth of the Weimar Republic.

Germany signed an armistice with the Allies. Exam tip: connect armistice with stopping war.

People blamed the government for the shame of the treaty. Exam tip: remember the link between popularity and the treaty.

Civil rights are a foundation of democracy. Exam tip: connect rights with democratic constitution.

Coalitions formed because of many small parties. Exam tip: connect proportional representation with coalition.

1918 began political change in Germany. Exam tip: remember the link between year and events.

The governing historical point is the location where Germany’s new constitutional assembly met after the First World War and the fall of the monarchy. Because political unrest and violence made Berlin unsuitable for the meeting, the National Assembly convened in the city of Weimar in 1919 and drafted the republican constitution there. The new democratic government came to be known as the Weimar Republic, so option A is correct. Weimar was a city, not Germany’s king, currency or army. The name therefore identifies the place associated with constitution-making, rather than the name of a ruler or an institution.

Reparations and loss of resources increased economic crisis. Exam tip: connect economic burden with the treaty.