November Treaties

The November Treaties concluded in November 1870 on the accession of the kingdoms of Bavaria and Württemberg and the grand duchies of Baden and Hesse to the North German Confederation. A new foundation was not envisaged but the North German Federation was to expand with the southern German states in order to form the German Empire.[1]

North German Confederation (1867-1870), with Prussia (blue with a red border), green border around Bavaria with the Bavarian Palatinate, yellow border around Württemberg, brown border around Baden and dark brown around Hesse-Darmstadt.

The November Treaties are detailed as follows:

  • The agreement between the North German Confederation and Baden and Hesse on the "founding" of the "German Confederation"[1] (not to be confused with the German Confederation of 1815) on 15 November 1870.[2]
  • The treaty of the North German Confederation with Bavaria on 23 November[3]
  • The treaty of the North German Confederation with Württemberg on 25 November.[4]

As a result, the constitution of the North German Confederation had to be adapted. Many changes had already appeared in the constitution of the German Confederation of 1 January 1871, but Württemberg had already ratified the treaty, as a result of which the new constitution had already been overtaken. Bavaria did not follow the ratification until the end of January, but allowed the legal effect to start retroactively on 1 January.

On 18 January 1871, the Emperor's proclamation in Versailles followed, which, from a legal point of view, did not constitute the founding of the empire, but a commission. The Constitution of the German Empire was adopted on 16 April to make constitutional law appropriate to the latest situation.

  1. ^ a b Vgl. hierzu Michael Kotulla, Deutsche Verfassungsgeschichte. Vom Alten Reich bis Weimar (1495–1934), 2008, Rn. 2014.
  2. ^ Protokoll, betreffend die Vereinbarung zwischen dem Norddeutschen Bunde, Baden und Hessen über Gründung des Deutschen Bundes und Annahme der Bundesverfassung vom 15. November 1870.
  3. ^ Vertrag, betreffend den Beitritt Bayerns zur Verfassung des Deutschen Bundes, nebst Schlußprotokoll vom 23. November 1870.
  4. ^ Vertrag betreffend den Beitritt Württembergs zur Verfassung des Deutschen Bundes, nebst dazu gehörigem Protokoll vom 25. November 1870.