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==Opposition in the Reichstag (1912-1913)==

==Opposition in the Reichstag (1912-1913)==

The Reichstag election of January 1912 turned on the issue of war and peace. In the wake of Agadir, the right demanded stronger action against Britain and France. Left-of-center Germans, meanwhile, turned to the Social Democratic Party as a bulwark against militarism. The number of seats held by the Social Democratics more than doubled from 43 to 110 (out of a total of 397). For the first time, the three left-of-center parties, namely the Social Democrats (110), Center Party (91), and the Progressive People's Party (42), together secured a working majority. The Center Party is the precursor of the Christian Democratic Union, Germany's post-World War II conservative movement. The PPP is the precursor of the modern Free Democrats.

The Reichstag election of January 1912 turned on the issue of war and peace. In the wake of Agadir, the Right demanded stronger action against Britain and France. Left-of-center Germans, meanwhile, turned to the Social Democratic Party as a bulwark against militarism. The number of seats held by the Social Democratics more than doubled from 43 to 110 (out of a total of 397). For the first time, the three left-of-center parties, namely the Social Democrats (110), Center Party (91), and the Progressive People's Party (42), together secured a working majority. The Center Party is the precursor of the Christian Democratic Union, Germany's post-World War II conservative movement. The PPP is the precursor of the modern Free Democrats.

The Social Democrats demanded reform of the "three-tier" method of voting used in the Prussian state elections. Prussia was by far the largest of the German states at this time. In peacetime, Germany's main army was Prussian and answered to Wilhelm as Prussian king. Three-tiered voting meant that the Prussian parliament was dominated by the junkers, conservative landowners who lived east of Elbe. Agriculture was the least efficient sector of the German economy at this time, so a voting system based on agricultural wealth was anachronistic.

The Social Democrats demanded reform of the "three-tier" method of voting used in the Prussian state elections. Prussia was by far the largest of the German states at this time. In peacetime, Germany's main army was Prussian and answered to Wilhelm as Prussian king. Three-tiered voting meant that the Prussian parliament was dominated by the junkers, conservative landowners who lived east of Elbe. Agriculture was the least efficient sector of the German economy at this time, so a voting system based on agricultural wealth was anachronistic.

In June 1913, the Reichstag approved a dramatic expansion of the army with the support of deputies of the Center, the National Liberal, and Radical parties.<ref name=ArmyExpand>"[http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/5th-july-1913/10/on-monday-the-reichstag-passed-the-new-german-army On Monday the Reichstag passed the new German Army Bill]", ''Spectator'', July 5, 1913.</ref>

In June 1913, the Reichstag approved a dramatic expansion of the army with the support of deputies of the Center, the National Liberal, and Radical parties.<ref name=ArmyExpand>"[http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/5th-july-1913/10/on-monday-the-reichstag-passed-the-new-german-army On Monday the Reichstag passed the new German Army Bill]", ''Spectator'', July 5, 1913.</ref>

On December 4, 1913, the Reichstag voted no confidence in Bethmann by a margin of 293 to 54. This vote was in response to abuses by a military officer in the Alsatian town of Zabern. Under the constitution, the emperor had exclusive authority over appointments. But if the budget had been rejected, Bethmann might have been forced out of office. In the end, only the Social Democrats (110 seats) and the Polish Party (18 seats) voted against the budget. The Reichstag had failed to take advantage of one of the few chances Germany was given to achieve parliamentary democracy and head off war.

On December 4, 1913, the Reichstag voted no confidence in Bethmann by a margin of 293 to 54. This vote was in response to abuses by a military officer in the Alsatian town of Zabern. Under the constitution, the emperor had exclusive authority over appointments. But, if the budget had been rejected, Bethmann might have been forced out of office. In the end, only the Social Democrats (110 seats) and the Polish Party (18 seats) voted against the budget. The Reichstag had failed to take advantage of one of the few chances Germany was given to achieve parliamentary democracy and head off war.

==Decision for war (1912-1914)==

==Decision for war (1912-1914)==