1. The Collapse of
Were the aims of 1848 unrealistic? Were the existing German governments too strong?

2. Challenge of Non-German Nationalism
There were many reasons for the failure of Frankfurt- including lack of material power
The German states had to willingly agree to help defend the parliament’s interest and that included collecting taxes- big issue
Direct connection- March 1848 Denmark occupied Schleswig and Holstein
Direct connection Bohemian declaration of Independence
Direct connection Posen revolution in Poland
Prussia was forced to act in Schleswig and Holstein- accepted an armistice- Frankfurt Parliament had to accept its impotence

4. Working Class Radicalism
Strong challenge to Frankfurt by the undeveloped and incoherent working class movement
Working class organization created to solve working class problems
Barricades were created in Frankfurt, Baden, Hesse-Cassel and Saxony- only solution was to ask for Prussian and Austrian troops for help
The working class organizations: limit on production quotas, restrictions on free trade, protection of guild privileges

5. Recovery of Prussia
Conservatism for the most parts triumphs in Germany due to working class violence and the national issue
The other factor is the steady recovery of nerve by the King of Prussia- attempted to abolish all feudal privileges- Junkers were now in open opposition to liberals
Wilhelm IV dismisses all liberal ministers and then dissolves the Prussian whole parliament at the same time of the revival of the Habsburgs
This leads to the Frankfurt Parliament to ask Wilhelm to accept the crown “from the gutter”

6. Debate?
“There was, in no realistic sense, a political revolution of any kind in Germany in There was merely a vacuum in which the liberals postured until the vacuum was filled”- A.J.P. Taylor