AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.
Obstacles faced by the merchant in 1833:
Before competing in the market, the merchant would have faced multiple customs barriers and tariffs at each German state's border. He also had to deal with over thirty different currencies, making transactions complicated and costly. These fragmented conditions obstructed the free movement of goods and capital.
Significance of the Zollverein (1834):
The Zollverein abolished tariff barriers and reduced currencies from over thirty to two, allowing unhindered movement of goods. A network of railways further stimulated mobility. Crucially, it created shared economic interests among German states, generating economic nationalism that strengthened wider nationalist sentiments — making it a step toward political unification, not just an economic reform.
Source: Chapter 1, Section 2.3
---
The question has two clear parts — obstacles and significance of Zollverein — so address both. Examiners look for: (1) specific obstacles (tariff barriers, multiple currencies), (2) what Zollverein did (abolished tariffs, reduced currencies, railways), and (3) the link between economic nationalism and political/national unification. The phrase "economic nationalism strengthened wider nationalist sentiments" is key textbook language — use it. Avoid padding; stay focused on the source passage.