Germany 1848 – 1849
Hasler 2018]
STATE Causes (specific)
[General see last lesson]
Prussia F84
(Berlin) - King Frederick William IV not a total
reactionary, did believe in Divine Right of
Kings; granted concessions in 1840 but this
lead to more demands, and he responded
angrily with restrictive policies
- He was friend and ally of Metternich
- 1847 he was more liberal and called a diet with
reps from all provinces, and he made
concessions to its liberal reforms and for a
constitution
- Inspired by events in Paris and Vienna (esp.
Metternich’s fall)
- High unemployment caused by economic
crisis of 1846-47
Other states
F81:
i.e. German - revolution spread to many small south west
Confederatio states after Fen Rev in France
n of 39 States - in some places peasants attack landlords
- Baden, radical republicans tried lead peasant
and worker rising, but little support and
suppressed by the liberal govt.
Events
(main)
- Demonstrations in Berlin 13 March 1848.
- Crowds in Berlin clash with army => Fredrich
Wilhelm IV promises new constitution, new
ministers and that Prussia would take an
active role in the creation of a new Germany.
- Cheering crowds fired upon by army, turns
into riots and 300 killed. FW appealed for
peace.
- Berliners hoped FW become a constitutional
monarch and might support German national
revolution
- 21 March he appeared with German colours
(black, red, gold) declaring wanted unity and
reforms, elections, and new constitution.
- BUT as soon as joined army in Potsdam he
spoke of how he was forced to make
concessions (did not want to be a ‘citizen’
king) but did allow decisions to be made by
liberal ministry (but it was mainly loyal to
crown and opposed to social rev.)
- => riots and demonstrations brought under
control
[see highlighted sheets]
F82
- Meetings, demonstrations, and not armed
uprisings were chief weapons of middle class
who hoped to work with and not destroy
princes
- Most rulers gave in easily, to demands of more
representative govt
- King Ludwig of Bavaria (eccentric) was forced
to abdicate
- Most states rulers survived and watched
developments
Frankfurt Parliament
[AS History, 19th C Europe, J.
Results Why Revolution fail?
- Successes
- Failures
Successes - F86
- new ministry did organise elections of a - In Potsdam FW conservative advisors urged
Prussian Parliament based manhood suffrage him to retake power (e.g. conservatives:
- New Parliament’s main achievement abolish Junkers, army officers, govt. officials) – they
privileges of Junker class wanted to modernise Prussia but against
‘popular sovereignty’.
Failures: - Prussians lost enthusiasm for revolution and
- It was dominated by liberals but 30% were unity
radicals. No agreement made on new - FW resumed control over foreign policy and
constitution made armistice with Danes – to disgust of
Frankfurt Parliament
- Riots by workers in Berlin scared middle class
who drew closer to traditional ruling class
- Habsburgs regained control in Vienna
encourage FW end Prussian Parliament and
dismiss liberal ministers.
- Nov 1848 FW appoint uncle Count
Brandenburg as head of new ministry who
exiled Prussian Parliament from Berlin, and
troops moved into Berlin => counter revolution
was successful.
- Army crushed industrial unrest.
- Prussian Parliament, unable to agree to a
constitution was dissolved by FW in December
and he proclaimed his own constitution = mix
liberalism (some freedoms granted) and
absolutism (FW appointed ministers,
controlled army, could change constitution) =>
was genuine parliament, but subservient, and
created from above => showed FW not willing
accept limits to power by subjects, but did put
some limit son own power.
- => Frankfurt Parliament opposed it, but well
received in Prussia
 F82
- March 1848, 51 reps from 6 states discussed
changes to Germany’s political institutions
(before rev made impact on states)
- Issued invitations for proposed assembly to
discuss changes
- 31 March, 574 reps from almost all states in
German Confederation = Vorparlament
(temporary parliament), and agreed to elect
national parliament
Schleswig-
Holstein F85
- New ministry supported German claims to
Duhies of Schleswig-Holstein and declared
war on Denmark
Success
F82
- national parliament met in Frankfurt =
triumph
- elections in 39 states peaceful and successful
- in most states people voted for electors who
then chose the reps
- => wider franchise than Britain
- Old Diet agreed to own demise and nominated
the Parliament as successor
- F84: Dec 1848 approved fundamental rights of
German citizens
- March 1849 agreed to constitution =>
constitutional monarchy (two house system),
and voted (half heartedly) to elect Frederick
William of Prussia as Emperor of Germany
Failures
F82
- not very representative of whole pop., most of
596 members were m-c
- => Parliament essentially moderate and liberal
- aim to draw up national constitution, //s
federal system where individual states able
pass own laws; but, difficult to draw it up
- Elected elderly Austrian Archduke John,
liberal and German nationalist sympathies as
Imperial Regent
F86:
F83 Failure to agree
- Delegates / states divided over type of govt:
constitutional monarchy (and over how much
power monarch should have) or republic
- And over wanting a united Germany, but self
govt within own states
- + argue over territory for ‘Germany’; parts of
Prussia and Austria included but not others;
some parts had Czechs and Poles but some
provinces largely German speaking not
included
- Big problem = Austria, if all or part should be
admitted, or just Germanic parts =>
Grossdeutschland (Big Germany with all
Austria => Catholic Austria would dominate))
or Kleindeutschland (Little Germany
excluding Austria but including whole of
Prussia => Prussia dominate)
- It opposed claims of other ethnic groups for
territory e.g. Danes in Schleswig-Holstein
- Supported actions of Austria re-establishing
control in Prague and Italy
- Supported Prussia’s war against Denmark
over disputed Schleswig-Holstein
- FW resumed control over foreign policy and
made armistice with Danes – to disgust of
Frankfurt Parliament