Frankfurt Parliament (Nationalversammlung) opens in the Paulskirche

Background. The Frankfurt National Assembly was the first freely elected parliament for all German states, including Austrian German areas, following elections on May 1, 1848. The Bundestag had urged states to call elections for a constitutional assembly in March 1848. Although the pre-parliament initially decided on May 13 for the opening, the date was pushed to May 18 to allow deputies from Prussia's outer provinces to arrive.

Venue Selection. The Paulskirche was chosen as the meeting place due to its typical Protestant centralised design, known as a Predigtkirche, which allowed everyone to easily hear the speaker. The neoclassical circular building was designed by architect Johann Friedrich Christian Hess. The assembly met in this church from 1848 to 1849, earning the name Paulskirchenparlament.

First Session. On May 18, 1848, 379 deputies assembled in the Kaisersaal and walked solemnly to the Paulskirche for the first session. Friedrich Lang served as the chairman by seniority. The Committee of Fifty from the Pre-parliament had rejected drafting Rules of Procedure on April 29, 1848, leaving the assembly to establish its own protocols.