The rich are more equal than others Badge

The rich are more equal than others

The rich are more equal than others
Jan 31 1850
Constitutional oath of Frederick William IV 1850 (retouching) Source: own

Three-class suffrage in Prussia

The violence of the March Revolution of 1848 in Berlin forced King Frederick William IV to make concessions. Although he eventually cracked down on dissent and regained the upper hand, the monarch felt it necessary to make some compromises and issued a written constitution on 31 January 1850.
Despite a progressive appearance, the balance of the new constitutional order was weighted heavily towards the representatives of the traditional order.

A bicameral parliament was created to pass laws, but of the two chambers, only the second was elected by all male Prussians. Whilst only the richest citizens were able to vote in elections for the first chamber, the second chamber was elected through a three-class electoral system. Male voters were divided into three groups according to the amount of tax they paid, with the vote of a first-class citizen carrying twenty times more weight than that of a third-class voter.

This was not representative government and ensured that power was concentrated in the hands of the wealthy. The three-class system remained in force until its abolition with the November Revolution of 1918.

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The whole year at a glance

Communists banned!
Aug 17
Artikel erst ab morgen verfügbar
Introduction of the Civil Code
Aug 18 1896
Item only available from the 18., check back!
Maximilian I becomes sole Roman-German king
Aug 19 1493
Item only available from the 19., check back!
East German soldiers in Czechoslovakia?
Aug 20 1968
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The wedding of Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst
Aug 21 1745
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Founding of the THW
Aug 22 1950
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Hitler-Stalin Pact
Aug 23 1939
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Scapegoating the Jews
Aug 24 1349
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Verdicts in the Wall shooters’ trial
Aug 25 1997
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Aug 26
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