German Revolution 1848

Question 1

• frederick william was a people pleaser. released political prisoners and took away censorship to try and appeal to the people. it didn’t work and he soon re-imposed censorship and took power away from local governments
• metternich didn’t want a unified germany, fearing the monarchy would be overthrown. imposed many censorship laws and banned piblic meetings
• different opposing ideas on how a unified germany would be ruled. some wanted nationalism, some wanted liberalism, some wanted a monarchy, some wanted a republic
• nobody was interested in a violent revolution, instead turning to petitons and demonstrations which were easily suppressed and weren’t very effective
• many were killed at a demonstration, william made public statements and acts to try and appease the rebels
• representatives from dif german states met and created a national parliament
• most wanted a monarchy, some wanted a republic. there was also difficulty deciding where the boundaries of germany would lie, especially ethnically german danish ruled schleswig and holstein
• without consulting the assembly prussia and denmark decided to share administration of the area
• the frankfurt assembly let it slide and the people revolted, murdering two members. claimed parliament was more interested in keeping princes happy than the wishes of the people
• william complained he had been forced to make concessions, and really didn’t want to be a citizen king. he put forth his own constitution in respoinse to the assembly’s, which gave the king near total control. it was approved and bismark was put in charge of the parliament
• still hoping to unite germany, frankfurt parliament offered william the german crown but he refused, not wanting to give up any of his power to them
• many members gave up and went home. the rest were forcibly driven out by the kings soldiers. the revolution had failed, and little had changed.

Answer 1

national assembly vs. frankfurt assembly vs. frankfurt parliament