Final answer:
The Frankfurt Parliament, often called the Frankfurt Assembly, was a short-lived elected body that aimed to unify the German states under a liberal constitution in 1848. Its failure was due to lack of aristocratic and military support, as well as internal disagreements and disconnect with the general population.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Frankfurt Parliament is often called the Frankfurt Assembly or Frankfurter Nationalversammlung in German. It was an elected assembly of representatives from various German states that convened in 1848 with the ambitious goal of creating a united Germany. The assembly attempted to draft a liberal constitution and form a centralized empire, but these efforts failed due to a lack of support from the aristocracy, military leaders, and some influential monarchs, particularly King Frederick William IV of Prussia, who rejected the notion that his divine right to rule could emerge from an elected body.
The assembly's debates touched on multiple controversial issues, like free enterprise versus workers’ rights, and the treatment of minority populations within the proposed nation. The lack of direct links between the representatives and the majority of the German population, combined with the various unresolved national questions, ultimately contributed to the assembly's failure to deliver a united German state.