It was a German National Assembly composed of a significant number of political organizations, the majority of whose members were middle-class professionals, businesspeople, and rich artisans. Its inaugural meeting was held on May 18, 1848, in Frankfurt's Church of St. Paul. They designed a constitution for a monarchy subject to a parliament to lead the German nation. The king of Prussia rejected the crown presented by parliament deputies and joined other monarchs in opposing the elected assembly. Because it was dominated by the middle classes, who fought the demands of workers and artisans, it lost their support. Finally, troops were summoned, and the meeting was forced to disband.
