UND Constitutional Identity Unconstitutional Amendments & Constituent Power Discussion

Question Description

This week we will transition to Unit Two, Interwar Experiments and Case Study #3, Weimar Germany. Before we do so, we will read a bit more on revolutionary and republican France, specifically on how this radically democratic venture ended with authoritarian rule under one manNapoleon Bonaparte. What went wrong?

Napoleon used his military exploits and consequent fame to maneuver himself into a position of power. He carefully controlled his own public image, publishing accounts of his military successes, and using symbolism that drew on French and Roman traditions. He retained certain aspects of the Revolution, but his rule was authoritarian and rejected most forms of democratic participation in government. The primary source readings were written by Napoleon or by people who knew him. How do these texts contribute towards the image of Napoleon as a leader with exceptional qualities? How did he gain the support of a wide range of French citizens?

Next we will move on to Weimar Germany. The German Empire collapsed in 1918 at the end of World War I and a republic was proclaimed in its stead. In 1919, a national assembly gathered in Weimar and adopted a new constitution. The resulting government was a multi-party parliamentary republic, a form of democracy very common today. At the time, the Weimar Republic was arguably the most liberal democratic government. But in 1933 it was dismantled by Adolf Hitler and replaced by the Nazi dictatorship. What went wrong? (Because of the mid-semester break, the readings for the next two weeks will be ahead of lectures. If you have any questions, be sure to bring them up during lecture or recitation.)

The reading on Weimar includes an excerpt of the constitution and programs of six parties. How did the constitution define people and power? What were some rights guaranteed by the constitution? How did the constitution sustain and undermine democracy? What were the main demands and complaints of each party?

Citation information:
Anton Kaes, Jay Martin, and Edward Dimendberg, eds., The Weimar Republic Sourcebook (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1994).
“Napoleon as an Ambitious Young General in 179697,” LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY: EXPLORING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, https://revolution.chnm.org/exhibits/show/liberty–equality–fraternity/item/366 (Links to an external site.).
“Napoleons Personal Feelings about Religion,” LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY: EXPLORING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, https://revolution.chnm.org/exhibits/show/liberty–equality–fraternity/item/362 (Links to an external site.).
“Napoleons Reasons for Making Himself Emperor (December 1804),” LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY: EXPLORING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, https://revolution.chnm.org/exhibits/show/liberty–equality–fraternity/item/359 (Links to an external site.).

“Winning over the Nobles,” LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY: EXPLORING THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, https://revolution.chnm.org/exhibits/show/liberty–equality–fraternity/item/357 (Links to an external site.).

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