Central German trade association
The Central German Trade Association was a direct reaction to the establishment of the Prussian-Hessian Customs Association in 1828 . It only existed until 1834.
History and Development
The connection of Hessen-Darmstadt to the Prussian tax system and the associated formation of the Prussian-Hessian Customs Union triggered a countermovement in a number of neighboring small and medium-sized German states, as the governments feared Prussia's economic and political dominance in the territory of the German Confederation . The efforts to found a customs and trade association were initially carried out mainly by the Kingdom of Saxony together with Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach and Saxe-Coburg . They were supported by Great Britain and Austria , who also wanted to limit Prussian influence. In addition to the states mentioned, the Kingdom of Hanover , the Electorate of Hesse , the Free City of Frankfurt , the Duchy of Nassau , Saxe-Coburg and Gotha , Saxe-Altenburg and Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt decided on May 21, 1828, as defensive measures in the following three years no other Join customs system. This was to prevent further states from joining the Prussian-Hessian system. In the following period, the other Thuringian states, the Duchy of Braunschweig , the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg , the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen and Hesse-Homburg also committed to this declaration.
Negotiations then began to establish a customs association of our own. On September 24, 1828, a contract for free trade and traffic was signed in Kassel. It confirms the members' ban on joining other customs systems. Exceptions were enclaves . However, the further provisions were vague. The governments agreed not to raise transit tariffs any further and to promote trade with one another. The period of validity was limited and ended in 1834.
However, the club lost its importance much earlier. The merger only became effective through a transit tax for goods into the Prussian-Hessian system. No common customs tariffs were introduced, nor was there a single area for internal trade. Last but not least, Prussian politics succeeded in removing some members from the Central German association through temptations or pressure. It was weakened as early as 1831 when the Electorate of Hesse joined the Prussian-Hessian customs union. The end came in 1833 with the foundation of a Thuringian customs and trade association . While the Thuringian Association and most of the other states of the Central German Association joined the German Customs Association in 1834 , Hanover and Braunschweig formed the tax association .
literature
- Jürgen Angelow : The German Confederation. Knowledge Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt 2003, ISBN 3-534-15152-6 , p. 63.
- Wolfram Siemann : From confederation to nation state. Germany 1807–1871. Beck, Munich 1995, ISBN 3-406-30819-8 , pp. 339f.
- Werner, Oliver: Central German trade association. In: Andreas C. Hofmann (Ed.): Lexicon on Restoration and Vormärz. German history 1815 to 1848 online text
- Hubert Kiesewetter : Industrial Revolution in Germany: Regions as Growth Motors. Verlag Franz Steiner, 2004, p. 48f.