First All-German Parliament 1848

First All-German Parliament Convenes in 1848, Paving Way for Unity

On May 18, 1848, a historic moment unfolded in Frankfurt's St. Paul's Church as the first democratically elected all-German parliament convened. This assembly aimed to establish a German nation-state with a constitution, marking a significant shift from the persistent military conflicts and competing systems of rule that characterised the early 19th century.

The path to this assembly began with revolutionary uprisings that swept across Europe, reaching Germany in the spring of 1848. During the so-called Vormärz era, the bourgeoisie engaged politically, demanding national unity and political freedom. The Congress of Vienna in 1814-15 had established the German Confederation, a loose alliance of states with monarchical rule and repressive structures. However, the events of 1848-49 reflected the growing politicization of society, with political life shifting into the public sphere, fuelled by new media advances such as newspapers, pamphlets, and published parliamentary records.

Heinrich von Gagern, a liberal politician, initially served as the president, or Vorsitzenden, of the Frankfurt National Assembly of 1848/49. Despite being denied a role in parliament, women forcefully carved out a role for themselves in the political public sphere. The assembly's work in Frankfurt am Main during its most important phase was marked by petitions carrying the people’s demands into legislative chambers. However, the initial euphoria of the revolution faded, and monarchical governments reasserted control, crushing the revolution and leaving its diverse hopes unfulfilled. The protests that erupted in Berlin on March 18, 1848, seeking to expand popular political participation and curb the power of monarchical elites, were a catalyst for these events.

The convening of the first democratically elected all-German parliament in 1848 signified a significant step towards political reform and unity in Germany. Despite the eventual suppression of the revolution, the events of 1848-49 laid the groundwork for future political developments and highlighted the growing influence of the public sphere in German politics.