integration and standardization - unification of weights and measures in Germany during the 19th century

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Gerold Ambrosius
• Subject Area: Economic and Social History
• Term: from 2010 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 181703156

The aim of this project is to analyze the order and standardization of weights and measures by the German Customs Union and the German and North German Confederation. It should be worked out, the motives and interests of private and public actors, the unification promoted or disabled, as the private and public actors acted on the intra-and inter-governmental level, which discussions and negotiations of public and private actors at the intergovernmental level abliefen and as the national and intergovernmental levels were clamped together. The point is - based on the national level and weight ratios - to trace, the opinion-forming and decision-making processes and to analyze, which led in 1836 to the Community dimension and weight of the German Zollverein and finally to the size and weight regulations of the North German Confederation in 1868. In particular, the role of the Customs Union standards, was initially used only in the international trade of Member States, will be investigated as a catalyst for the harmonization of national regulations. The project is a contribution to the research field of multilateral economic integration. In addition, a special contribution to the exploration of the inner Empire 'in the 19th Century will be done.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• Participating Persons: Dr. Cornelius Neutsch; Professor Dr. Harald Witthöft