The new, democratic Prussian constitution comes into force in the year 1920. Among other legislation measures it contains the Reich Election Law with general active and passive rights to vote also for women.
 

Civil commotion characterises the first year of the young republic. In March 1920, workers from the Ruhr Region rebel: leftist groups form as a response to the Kapp-Putsch and strive for political power. The civil war-like uprisings in places such as Wesel, Münster, Dortmund and Hamm are bloodily suppressed by Reichswehr army units. The so-called "Battle of Pelkum" is typical. During this skirmish a high number of workers and worker Samaritans are killed in the fight or else executed by order.