Zollverein


 * Amine Raihani**

Zollverein: “was a coalition of German states formed to manage customs and economic policies within their territories” (wikipedia).



Source: wikipedia.org

The German Zollverein 1834–1919

blue = in 1834

grey= Included region until 1866

yellow= Excluded after 1866

red = Borders of the German Union of 1828

pink= Relevant others until 1834

(notes from textbook: "Europe 1760-1871") a. German Zollverein: 1. “An area in which no taxes were charged on the movement of goods”. a. (224) Member states produced 5.6 million tons of coal in 1845. 1. Whole Austrian Empire produced only 710,000 tons.

II. The Zollverin a. 1818, 70 Rhineland manufacturers complained to Prussia about competition that entered Prussia. i. Came up with Prussian Customs Union. 1. Movement of goods from one area to another was free (inside Prussia). 2. 10-20% charge on goods entering Prussia from the outside. 3. “Heavy tax placed on any foreign manufactured goods passing through Prussian territory. b. Some states feared the Prussian power over trade so they created their own groups. c. 1828- two rival unions were created. i. Different states formed unions. 1. The Middle German Commercial Union (strong union). 2. Slowly by slowly, both unions started to collapse. d. (235) 1834, the Zollverein was born. i. “A group of states that had agreed to abolish all customs duties between themselves”.

III. The importance of the Zollverein. a. They provided satisfaction in terms of “enjoying a virtual economic union under Prussian leadership”. b. As Prussia was developing economically and administratively, it was a role model for German states, as they looked up to Prussia’s organization. i. 1830 the Prussian Finance Minister says that: 1. A free trade league would: a. Isolate Austria. i. Was it Prussia’s intention to isolate Austria? 1. Some historians believe so. a. 1840’s; Prussia a potential leader of united Germany.

IV. “The development of liberalism and nationalism in the German Confederation in the 1840’s” (236). a. After a threat that France might invade Germany, “nationalism had a boost”. i. 1846, King of Denmark wanted to join his German states into his country. 1. Nationalism once again had a boost. b. Liberalism also evolved. i. South-states in Germany.