Across the 39 states of the German Confederation, the revolutions of 1848 were driven by the twin goals of liberal reform and national unification.

Inspired by events in France, popular uprisings forced many German rulers to grant constitutions and appoint liberal ministers.

The major achievement of the revolution was the creation of the Frankfurt Parliament, an all-German assembly elected to write a constitution for a unified Germany.

The Parliament was dominated by middle-class liberals and academics who debated key issues, such as the form of government and the borders of the new nation.

A major point of contention was the 'Kleindeutsch' (small German) versus 'Grossdeutsch' (large German) question, concerning whether to include Austria.

The Parliament eventually drafted a liberal constitution for a unified Germany under a constitutional monarchy.

In April 1849, the Parliament offered the crown of this unified Germany to King Frederick William IV of Prussia.

He famously rejected the offer, calling it a 'crown from the gutter,' because it came from an elected assembly rather than from his fellow princes.

This rejection doomed the liberal effort to unify Germany from below.

Conservative forces regained control, and the Frankfurt Parliament was dissolved, ending the revolution.