After the Frankfurt Assembly failed, Prussia, in early 1850, took the initiative of the Erfurt Union, a Prussia-led federation of most of the German states.
A conflict between the Elector of Hesse and his subjects was the cause for the Austrian chancellor Felix zu Schwarzenberg to isolate Prussia further.
Prussia then decided to give in, partly because Tsar Nicholas I of Russia had chosen the side of Austria in the Warsaw negotiations in October 1850.
Prussia submitted to Austrian leadership of the confederation, agreed to demobilise and to partake in the intervention of the German Diet in Hesse and Holstein and renounced any resumption of the Erfurt Union.
On the other hand, Austria agreed to call for a ministerial conference to discuss a reform of the German Confederation, which took place in Dresden the following year without result.