The Zollverein

What was the Zollverein?

• A voluntary customs union.

Before the Zollverein After the Zollverein

• Started by Prussia in 1818. • Mainly because businessmen in the

Prussian controlled Rhineland had to pay large amounts of customs duties when transporting goods to other Prussian territories.

• By 1836 the Zollverein included 25 of the 39 states and 25m people.

• Abolished customs duties and created a system of free trade within the member states.

• Austrian decision not to participate left Austria isolated. Metternich himself realised the potential effects that the Zollverein could have – see Quote p15 McGonigle.

• “Little by little, under the direction of Prussia and because of common interests, the states which make up this union will compose a more or less compact body, acting in common.”

• Prussian and German roads and railways grew because of the Zollverein.

How did the Zollverein promote nationalism?

• Drew the German states together – economically.

• Prussia firmly established as the economic leader in Germany.

• Economic Nationalism grows, especially amongst the middle-classes. A united Germany could compete better with countries such as Britain.

• If states looked up to Prussia economically, then perhaps they would politically too.

• Find two other quotes that support the idea that the Zollverein spread German nationalism.

Or did it really….?

• AJP Taylor argues that the Zollverein promoted purely economic and not political unity. Evidence of this is that in 1866, during the Austro-Prussian War, many of the southern states that were members of the Zollverein, fought on the Austrian side. Thus proving that traditional cultural ties to Austria were more important than the economic ties of the Zollverein.

• Find another quote that supports the idea that the Zollverein did not promote political unity between the German states.