Prussia's Constitutional Monarchy: A Historical Shift

Prussia was an absolute monarchy under the rule of the Hohenzollern family until the German revolutions of 1848. The revolutions, which occurred across Germany, led to the imposition of a constitution by King Frederick William IV, which included a parliament with two chambers, the introduction of jury courts, and certain limitations on the monarch's powers. Despite these liberal elements, the king retained a dominant position over the three branches of government, and the military remained outside the control of parliament. Prussia became the leading state in the North German Confederation in 1866, and in 1871 it became the largest constituent state of the German Empire. After World War I, Prussia was absorbed into the German republic as a territory with little influence on the ruling government, and in 1919 the Free State of Prussia enacted a new democratic constitution.

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The 1848 Constitution

Despite the liberal clauses in the Constitution, Prussia was still far from a democratic state. The king had an absolute veto over laws, which restricted the separation of powers. The monarch could also circumvent the judiciary, and the military could be described as a state within the state. All adult male citizens, regardless of class, had the right to vote. However, the three-class franchise that weighted votes based on the amount of taxes paid significantly limited the political voice of the middle and lower classes.

On 11 April 1848, elections were called for a Prussian National Assembly, with all males 25 and older able to vote. The King and his ministers presented a draft constitution, but the Assembly responded with the "Charte Waldeck", which included an expanded list of fundamental rights, a Volkswehr ('people's guard') responsible to parliament, and restrictions on feudal rights. The King rejected this draft and adjourned the Assembly on 9 November. On 5 December 1848, he unilaterally imposed the Constitution of 1848, which included many liberal elements from the "Charte Waldeck".

The 1850 Constitution

Prussia became a constitutional monarchy in 1848, after the German revolutions of 1848-1849. The 1850 Constitution of Prussia was an amended version of the 1848 Constitution, a result of the cooperation between the new Prussian Parliament, the King, and his ministers.

The German Confederation

The Confederation was established as an eternal union, impossible to dissolve or leave, and no new members could be admitted without universal consent in the Federal Convention. However, its structure and member states weakened it. For example, the two most populous member states, Austria and Prussia, often opposed each other. The German revolutions of 1848–1849, inspired by liberal, democratic, socialist, and nationalist sentiments, aimed to transform the Confederation into a unified German federal state with a liberal constitution. The formation of the Zollverein (a German customs union) in 1834 and these 1848 revolutions further undermined the confederation.

The Confederation was finally dissolved after the victory of the Kingdom of Prussia in the Seven Weeks' War against the Austrian Empire in 1866. The dispute over which entity had the inherent right to rule German lands ended in favour of Prussia, leading to the creation of the North German Confederation under Prussian leadership in 1867. A number of South German states remained independent until they joined the North German Confederation, which was renamed and proclaimed as the "German Empire" in 1871, as the unified Germany (aside from Austria) with the Prussian king as emperor (Kaiser). The United States recognized the North German Confederation in 1867 and established diplomatic relations.

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The North German Confederation

Prussia became a constitutional monarchy following the Revolutions of 1848 in the German states. The Kingdom of Prussia was an absolute monarchy until this point.

Now, onto the North German Confederation:

Berlin was the capital of the North German Confederation, and the king of Prussia served as its president, while the Prussian chancellor held the same position in the confederation. The confederation had a two-house parliamentary system, with one house appointed from the nobility and the other consisting of elected members. The confederation assumed responsibility for various aspects, including tax collection, the post and telegraph systems, railways, banks, currency, and a standardized system of weights and measures for all the German states within it.

The German Revolution

Prussia was an absolute monarchy under the rule of the Hohenzollern family, headed by King Frederick William IV, until the German Revolution of 1848. The Revolution saw sympathetic uprisings across Germany, including in Prussia's capital, Berlin. In March 1848, King Frederick William IV yielded to the demands of protesters, promising parliamentary elections, freedom of the press, and a constitution. On 11 April, elections were called for a Prussian National Assembly, with all males aged 25 and older able to vote.

The King and his ministers presented a draft constitution, which retained many of the monarch's old rights. The Assembly responded with the "Charte Waldeck", which included an expanded list of fundamental rights, a 'people's guard' responsible to parliament, and restrictions on feudal rights. The King, however, refused to accept the proposed constitution. On 5 December 1848, he unilaterally imposed the Constitution of 1848, which still contained many liberal elements from the "Charte Waldeck", including a parliament with two chambers, the introduction of jury courts, and certain limitations on the monarch's powers.

The 1850 Constitution of Prussia was an amended version of the 1848 Constitution, with changes made through a cooperative effort between the new Prussian Parliament, the King, and his ministers. The King remained dominant over the three branches of the government, and while the constitution included liberal elements, Prussia was still far from a democratic state. The 1850 Constitution remained the fundamental law of Prussia until the end of the German Empire in 1918.

Following World War I, the German Revolution of 1918-1919 led to the Free State of Prussia enacting a new, democratic constitution in 1920. Prussia was incorporated as a state in the Weimar Republic and was abolished in 1947.

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