2. A DIVIDED AND INEFFECTIVE PARLIAMENT
Weakness:
The parliament which met in May 1848, did not represent the population as a whole.
Lack of popular support (the delegates mainly liberals)
Its members could not agree on the territorial extent of a new Germany
(Kleindeutschland or) Grossdeutschland
Division within the members (radical minority, small conservative groups, and liberals majority)
The crown of this empire was offered to Friedrich Wilhelm IV and rejected
He rejected the offer in April, declining to ‘pick up a crown of mud and wood from the
gutter’ (a Pig crown).
He would only accept an imperial throne offered by his fellow princes.
3. WHY DIDTHE FRANKFURT PARLIAMENT
FAIL?
parliament’s members lacked political experience (impractical idealists)
struggled to resolve differences between moderate liberals, radicals and conservatives.
No Military power
lacked an army of its own
The weakness of the army was illustrated by a crisis over the disputed provinces of
Schleswig-Holstein on the Jutland peninsula, linking Prussia and Denmark
Limited Support
The princes mostly withdrew their constitutions after FriedrichWilhelm’s refusal of the
crown
Most of the members of the parliament went home.
Austria opposition
Austrian government opposed all revolutionary change.
Austrian Emperor, Franz Joseph, regained control his territiories in 1849.
5. ACTIVITY 3.9
From FriedrichWilhelm IV’s message to the Frankfurt Parliament, rejecting the offer of
the imperial crown, 3 April 1849
The German National Assembly has counted on me in all things which were calculated to
establish the unity of Germany and the power of Prussia. I honour its confidence; please
express my thanks for it ... But I should not justify that confidence – I should not answer to
the expectations of the German people – I should not strengthen the unity of Germany – if I,
violating sacred rights and breaking my former explicit and solemn promises, were, without
the voluntary assent of the crowned Princes and free States of our Fatherland, to take a
resolution which must be of decisive importance to them and to the States which they rule.
Source: Kertesz, G.A. (ed.). (1970). Documents in the Political History of the European
Continent 1815–1939. Oxford: Oxford University Press, p. 118
What reason does FriedrichWilhelm give for turning down the offer of the imperial German
crown? Do you believe that he is sincere in expressing his support for the idea of German
unity?
6. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Modern Europe, 1750-1921 for Cambridge International AS Level History Graham
Goodlad, Patrick Walsh-Atkins & Russell Williams
access to historyThe Unification of Germany 1815–1919THIRD EDITION Alan
Farmer and Andrina Stiles
Editor's Notes
See pp. 128 Modern Europe History Coursebook and pp.30, 34 The Unification of Germany 1815-1919 Hodder Education
See pp. 37-38 The Unification of Germany 1815-1919 Hodder Education
