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1848 Revolutions in Germany – events and significance. Idiot’s revision guide. Summary of 1848-9. Revolutions and uprisings across the German-speaking states, led by Liberals and nationalists May 1848 - Liberals set up the Frankfurt Parliament to create a constitution for a united ‘Germany’
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1848 Revolutions in Germany – events and significance Idiot’s revision guide
Summary of 1848-9 • Revolutions and uprisings across the German-speaking states, led by Liberals and nationalists • May 1848 - Liberals set up the Frankfurt Parliament to create a constitution for a united ‘Germany’ • March 1849 – They finally complete the constitution, and offer the crown of ‘Germany’ to the King of Prussia, Wilhelm IV • He refuses “The crown from the gutter” ... • ... and anyway, by now the impetus has gone out of the revolutionary movement; revolutions are crushed or fizzle out during 1849
Significance/consequences of 1848-9 Bad news? Good news? • Revolutions failed • Frankfurt Parliament constitution for a united Germany rejected • German Confederation re-established, under Austrian dominance • Nationalist ideas continued to gain popularity among intelligentsia through 1850s/60s • Idea of Prussia leading the German states still appealed ... • 1850 – ‘Erfurt Union’ – a proposal (by Prussia) to unite the German states under a Prussian king (idea was quashed by Austria)