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Period: to
The German and Prussian revolutions
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What caused the revolutionary movements?
-the German population doubled: people left the land and drifted to the towns
-harvests were disastrous
-an assembly of liberals agreed on the urgent need for an independent German Parliament -
new Prussian Parliament
King Frederick Willian IV of Prussia called a united diet, with representatives from all provincial diets, and made concession to its demands for liberal reforms and a written constitution -
Declaration of Heidelberg
Representatives of six states discussed changes to Germany´s political institutions and finally the Declaration of Heidelberg was published: a more complete assembly should come together so to continue deliberation -
Riots in Berlin
News of the revolution in Paris reched Berlin and a demonstration by workers took place. At least 300 rioters were killed as troops won control of the city. -
New German Constitution
King Frederick William IV accepted the idea of a new German Constitution -
Liberal opposition
Frederick William made concessions for liberal opposition:
-election of assembly to draw up a new German constitution
-appointing a liberal ministry -
Vorparlament
Representatives of almost all the German Confederation assembled and reached an agreement on how to elect a national parliament (one representative for every 50000 inhabitants elected by citizens of age and "economically independent") -
Frankfurt Parliament
The German national parliament met in Frankfurt. The vast majority of its members were from the middle class and it was essentially moderate and liberal. Its key issue was to draw up a national constitution. -
Prussian Parliament
The new Prussian Parliament was elected and met. There was no agreement about a new constitution. Its main achievement was to abolish the feudal system. -
Berlin
Control in Berlin was re-established -
Prussian Parliament
The Prussian Parliament is dissolved and a new constitution (mixture of liberalism and absolutism) is proclaimed by Frederick William -
The Fifty Articles
The Frankfurt Parliament approved the Fifty Articles of the fundamental rights of the German citizen:
-equality before the law
-freedom of worship
-freedom pf the press
-end to discrimination because of class -
German Constitution
The Frankfurt Parliament finally agree to a constitution and voted to elect the Prussian King Frederick William IV,who rejected the offer, as Emperor of Germany. -
Dispersion of Frankfurt Parliament
The Parliament was driven out of Frankfurt by the city government, moved to Suttgart, the capital of the Kingdom of Württemberg, and was forcibly dispersed by the King´s soldiers.