The New Era (German: Neue Ära) was the term for the government policy in the Kingdom of Prussia between Autumn 1858 and Spring 1862. It followed the Era of Reaction under Frederick William IV.^[1]

Overview

The New Era began with the regency of Wilhelm I on October 7, 1858, who became King Wilhelm I in 1861. After the Era of Reaction of the 1850s, which had emphasized the preservation of the old conservative prerogatives, the new Regent tried to enforce reforms by calling together a conservative-liberal coalition government. However, the reforms were blocked by the deputies from the Junker nobility, which led the Prussian House of Lords.

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