ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the propertied and educated middle classes, the term bourgeoisie is used both in the sense of the German Burgertum and, more particularly for the period after 1850, also of the Bourgeoisie. However in nineteenth century Germany the bourgeoisie did not win political power and influence from the feudal class, as was the case among her western neighbours. A bourgeois profession, which most writers were forced to seek for economic reasons, gave them credibility in the eyes of their readers. Intermarriage was by no means rare between members of the nobility and bourgeois from an official or clerical background. The Prussian code of 1794, in attempting to classify the various types of burgher, had referred to 'exempt, high bourgeoisie and rich citizens'. The political awareness of the inhabitants was centred on preserving things as they were, even to the point of looking to the ruler to defend them against his own bureaucrats.
