German Revolution (Prussia)

Liberal attempt towards liberal constitutional monarchy

Oct 3, 1847

Prior to 1848 Prussian Liberals aspired to establish liberal unified German Confederation. However, the French Revolutoin of 1830 motivated Germans to push forward their demand.

Exploding grievances of urban workers

Mar 3, 1848

Artisans and factory workers in Berlin temporarily joined with the MIddle Class liberals to achieve further liberal reforms.

Fredrick William IV Promises Liberal Reforms

Mar 21, 1848

Fredrick William IV promised to merge Prussia into a new national German state. However, workers demanded more than moderate constitutional liberalism and asked for democratic and socialist demands.

Prussian Constituent Assembly

May 22, 1848

National assembly consisting of lawyers, doctors, officals, professors wrote German Federal Constitution. However, the attention shifted towards territorial conflict between Denmark over the provinces of Schleswig and Holstein. The war against Denmark united Germans under a common national identity.

Fredrick William becomes the Emperor

Mar 4, 1849

The National assembly finally finishes drafting constitution and elected Frederick William of Prussia as the emperor of the new German nation.

Frederick Wiliam attempts to assume absolut rule

May 31, 1849

Frederick William rejected constitutional monarchy and attempted to regain absolutist power and disbanded national assembly. Refused "the crown from the gutter".

Failed revolution, remained fragment

Sep 4, 1850

Frederick William attempted to unite Germany by getting supports from small monarchs, but Austria and Russia interfered and renounced all plans for unification. Germany remained fragmented.