Final answer:
The Frankfurt Parliament did not elect anyone as Emperor of Germany on 28th March 1848. Their efforts to create a united Germany with an emperor at its head were unsuccessful due to various political conflicts and opposition. Wilhelm I became the German Emperor in 1871 after the unification efforts led by Otto von Bismarck.
Step-by-step explanation:
On the 28th of March 1848, the Frankfurt Parliament did not elect an Emperor of Germany because their attempt to unify the German states and create a centralized government failed. King Frederick William IV of Prussia was offered the title but he refused it, declaring he would not accept a crown from a 'gutter'. The Frankfurt Assembly, which was comprised of representatives from various German states, faced opposition from the aristocracy and military and did not manage to secure a vote or approval for a centralized emperor. It was not until after further political developments and a series of wars that Wilhelm I was proclaimed Emperor of Germany, but this event took place in 1871, not 1848.
The Frankfurt Assembly's failure was primarily due to the resistance of the traditional ruling powers and the complex debates among the many delegates about the future of the German states. The notion of a united Germany eventually became a reality, but it was Count Otto von Bismarck, not the Frankfurt Assembly, who played a critical role in orchestrating the unification under Prussian dominance.