Germany in the 1800's

The Zollverein was the most significant economic development within the german states between 1815 and 1848. This was the abolition of all customs and tarriffs within and between all German states. At this stage Prussia became the most economically important in germany and in 1828 raised its tarriffs on products therfore putting greater stress on smaller states. The Zellevein was important for both the unification of germany and Prussia's leadership as the surrounding states progressively became more reliant …

…to unify under a liberal political structure. However due to the failure of the 1848 revolution germany was unable to achieve unity and damaged any liberal power therefore liberalism and nationalism could no longer precede to go hand in hand. This worked in prussias favour as liberalism was no longer a concern. The prussiam upper classes remained in complete control of the organs of state power which cosequently extended prussias influence over the surrounding german states.