R301834

In 1834, the Zollverein was originally created by the Prussian state to help better the economy. All the German states except for Austrian were placed under a single ecnomic union and, together, the states promoted free trade among themselves but maintained high tariffs among other trade partners. With the help of the Zollverein, countries were able to pull their economies from the gutters. However, the Zollverein did not include Austria because of its highly protected industry. The exclusion of Austria later enraged the Austro-Prussian rivalry for control in central Europe during the late 19th century. Due to the clash among the two countries, the Zollverein was ended in 1866 prior to the Austro-Prussian War. McKay, John P. __History of Western society__. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003.