Final answer:
The Frankfurt Parliament declared authority over the Germanic Confederation in May 1848, aiming to unify the German states, but the effort failed due to opposition from monarchy and aristocracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
By the end of May 1848, the Frankfurt Parliament declared authority over the Germanic Confederation. This parliament was the first freely elected German parliament and aimed to unite the disparate German states under a single constitution and emperor. Despite their efforts, the constitution they drafted was ultimately rejected by the aristocracy, the military, and King Frederick William IV of Prussia, who refused the notion that an elected assembly could grant a monarch's divine right. As a result, the movement towards a unified Germany was temporarily stalled, resuming under Prussian leadership with the success of the Zollverein, a custom union forming the basis for economic unity.
The liberal national aspirations reflected in the assembly at Frankfurt were met with challenges. Unlike in France, where the revolution successfully ousted monarchy permanently, in the German realms, the kings and officials managed to regain control. Too much debate over details and a lack of connection with the broader population undermined the revolutionaries' efforts. Nonetheless, the Frankfurt assembly's attempt to declare authority over the Germanic Confederation is recognized as an important moment in the history of German nationalism and the quest for unification, despite the ultimate reassertion of control by the monarchs and the conservative leaders within the smaller German states.