Zollverein

Zollverein (Ger., 'customs-union'), a union of the German states, under the leadership of Prussia, so as to enable them in their commercial relations with other countries to act as one state. When, after the war of liberation in 1815, the political union, destroyed by the downfall of 'the Holy Roman Empire,' had been restored to a certain degree in the German Confederation (see GERMANY, Vol. V. p. 182), internal commerce was felt to be trammelled and depressed by the collection of revenue at the frontiers of every petty state; and united action in regard to foreign commerce was impossible. The first suggestion of such a customs-union came from Prussia; but it took many years before an actual beginning was made, and still longer before it reached its ultimate extent, as the plan was opposed for a long time by the jealousies and special interests of many of the states. In 1834 eighteen states had entered a union for a term of eight years; in 1835-38 five more, in 1842-52 other five, including Baden, Brunswick, Frankfurt, and Hanover. During the term 1854-65 all the German states were members except Austria, the two Mecklenburgs, and the Hanse towns. The events of the Austro-Prussian war disarranged the union. In 1867 a new customs-union was established between the North German Confederation and Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden, and Hesse. But all such arrangements were rendered superfluous in 1871 by the constitution of the German empire.