Final answer:
In 1848, a kleindeutschland or "smaller Germany" became the obvious solution for German unification. This concept excluded Austria and favored Prussia as the leading force. The failure of the Frankfurt Assembly and the establishment of the Zollverein by Prussia contributed to the viability of a smaller Germany.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1848, the idea of a kleindeutschland or "smaller Germany" emerged as the obvious solution for German unification. This concept advocated for the exclusion of Austria, and instead, the leadership of Prussia. The failure of the Frankfurt Assembly to draft a constitution and the rejection of a united Germany under Austrian rule by King Frederick William IV of Prussia solidified the path towards a smaller Germany. The formation of a customs union called the Zollverein by Prussia furthered the economic and political unity among German states, making a smaller Germany under Prussian leadership a more practical and achievable goal.