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The 1903 German Election

An analytical exploration of the Reichstag's composition and the evolving political forces shaping Imperial Germany.

Election Overview ๐Ÿ‘‡ View Results ๐Ÿ“Š

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Election Overview

Key Details

The 1903 German federal election took place on June 16, 1903, determining the composition of the Reichstag for the German Empire. This election saw a significant increase in voter turnout compared to previous elections, reaching 76.1%. Despite the Social Democratic Party (SPD) securing a plurality of the popular vote, the Centre Party maintained its position as the largest single party in the Reichstag.

Political Landscape

The political scene was dominated by several key parties: the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Centre Party, the National Liberals, and the Conservative parties. The SPD's strong showing in the popular vote highlighted its growing influence, while the Centre Party's ability to secure the most seats demonstrated the fragmented nature of the German political system at the time, where electoral districts and party strategies played crucial roles in translating votes into parliamentary representation.

Seat Distribution Dynamics

The election resulted in the Centre Party securing 100 seats, followed by the SPD with 81 seats. The National Liberals won 50 seats, and the Conservative parties collectively secured a substantial number as well. This distribution meant that no single party held a majority, necessitating coalition-building and complex negotiations to form a government, a common characteristic of the Reichstag's political dynamics during this era.

Detailed Election Results

National Vote and Seat Share

The following table provides a comprehensive breakdown of the results from the 1903 German federal election, including popular vote, percentage, seat allocation, and changes from the previous election. The data illustrates the shifting allegiances and strengths of the various political parties.

National Results
Party Votes % +/โˆ’ Seats +/โˆ’
Social Democratic Party 3,010,771 31.71 +4.53 81 +25
Centre Party 1,875,292 19.75 +0.99 100 โˆ’2
National Liberal Party 1,301,473 13.71 +0.85 50 +2
German Conservative Party 901,415 9.49 โˆ’1.22 52 โˆ’1
Free-minded People's Party 536,879 5.65 โˆ’1.55 21 โˆ’8
German Reich Party 336,617 3.54 โˆ’0.81 21 โˆ’1
Free-minded Union 233,229 2.46 โˆ’0.06 8 โˆ’4
Independent Polish 164,742 1.73 โˆ’0.45 8 0
German Agrarian League 145,025 1.53 +0.20 5 โˆ’1
German Reform Party 138,344 1.46 New 6 New
Alsace-Lorraine parties 126,276 1.33 โˆ’0.19 11 0
Polish People's Party 104,246 1.10 +1.00 5 +5
German-Hanoverian Party 100,538 1.06 โˆ’0.30 7 โˆ’2
German People's Party 82,007 0.86 โˆ’0.51 5 โˆ’3
Bavarian Peasants' League 65,815 0.69 โˆ’1.00 2 โˆ’2
German Social Party 59,291 0.62 New 3 New
Other agrarians 45,870 0.48 +0.36 1 1
Polish National Party 44,175 0.47 New 1 New
Christian Social Party 40,744 0.43 โˆ’0.20 2 +1
Polish Court Party 34,621 0.36 โˆ’0.51 2 โˆ’4
National-Social Group 33,655 0.35 0.00 1 +1
Alsatian liberals 25,677 0.27 +0.05 2 +1
Independent conservatives 22,490 0.24 +0.18 1 โˆ’2
Danish Party 14,843 0.16 โˆ’0.04 1 0
Independent liberals 9,808 0.10 โˆ’0.50 0 โˆ’3
Alsace Liberal Group 9,166 0.10 +0.07 1 +1
Middle Class parties 6,909 0.07 +0.03 0 0
Independent anti-semites 6,474 0.07 โˆ’0.23 0 โˆ’2
Lithuanian Party 6,012 0.06 โˆ’0.05 0 โˆ’1
Other conservatives 674 0.01 โˆ’0.05 0 0
Others 11,884 0.13 โˆ’0.05 0 0
Unknown 625 0.01 0.00 0 0
Total 9,495,587 100.00 โ€“ 397 0
Valid votes 9,495,587 99.60
Invalid/blank votes 38,227 0.40
Total votes 9,533,814 100.00
Registered voters/turnout 12,531,248 76.08

The distribution of seats among the major parties was as follows:

Seat Distribution

  • Centre Party: 100 seats
  • SPD: 81 seats
  • German Conservative Party: 52 seats
  • National Liberal Party: 50 seats
  • Free-minded People's Party: 21 seats
  • German Reich Party: 21 seats

Other parties and regional groups secured the remaining seats, reflecting the diverse political interests across the German Empire.

Alsace-Lorraine Results

Regional Political Dynamics

The province of Alsace-Lorraine, annexed by Germany in 1871, presented a unique political landscape. The elections in this region often reflected distinct regional sentiments and allegiances, sometimes diverging from the national trends. The results here were closely watched as an indicator of the province's integration and its political aspirations.

Alsace-Lorraine Results
Party Votes % +/โˆ’ Seats +/โˆ’
Alsace-Lorraine Land Party 69,011 24.44 โˆ’4.90 6 0
Social Democratic Party 68,267 24.17 +1.46 0 โˆ’1
Lorraine independent conservatives 44,884 15.89 +4.68 4 +1
Alsatian Liberals 25,677 9.09 +1.71 2 +1
Centre Party 20,034 7.09 New 0 New
Independent conservatives 12,060 4.27 โˆ’1.62 0 โˆ’1
German Reich Party 9,874 3.50 โˆ’0.60 1 0
Alsace Liberal Group 9,166 3.25 +2.32 1 +1
Alsace-Lorraine protesters 8,163 2.89 +0.17 1 0
Free-minded Union 7,368 2.61 +2.47 0 0
Clericals 4,218 1.49 โˆ’4.68 0 โˆ’1
National Liberal Party 1,417 0.50 โˆ’3.06 0 0
Independent liberals 1,327 0.47 โˆ’2.54 0 0
Others 947 0.34 +0.02 0 0
Total 282,413 100.00 โ€“ 15 0

In Alsace-Lorraine, the regional Land Party secured the most seats, indicating a strong regional identity. The SPD and independent conservative groups also garnered significant support, reflecting the complex political affiliations within the province.

References

Source Citations

The information presented on this page is derived from the following sources:

  1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stรถver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p762
  2. Nohlen & Stรถver, p789
  3. Nohlen & Stรถver, p775
  4. Wahlen in Deutschland
  5. Wahlen in Deutschland

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References

References

  1.  Wahlen in Deutschland
  2.  Wahlen in Deutschland
A full list of references for this article are available at the 1903 German federal election Wikipedia page

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Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional political analysis or historical advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for in-depth academic research or consultation with historical or political science experts. Always refer to primary sources and consult with qualified professionals for specific academic or research needs.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.