the role of women in nationalist …

In other parts of Europe where independent nation-states did not yet exist- such as Germany, Italy, Poland, the Austro-Hungarian Empire- women of the liberal middle classes combined their demands for constitutionalism with national unification. monarchy with national unification. They took advantage of the growing popular unrest to push their demands for the creation of a nation-state on parliamentary principles-a constitution, freedom of the press and freedom of formation or joining union or association.
The issue of extending political rights to women was a controversial one within the liberal movement, in which large numbers of women had participated actively over the years. Women had formed their own political associations, founded newspapers and taken part in, political meetings and demonstrations. Despite this, they were denied suffrage rights during the election of the Assembly. This fact was evident from Frankfurt Parliament convened in the Church of St. Paul where women were admitted only as observers to stand in the visitors gallery.