Editing Rhineland (section)

===Prussian influence===
{{see also|Rhine Province}}
[[File:Rheinland Regierungsbezirke 1905.png|thumb|''Regierungsbezirke'' of the Prussian Rhine Province, 1905 map]]
A Prussian influence began on a small scale in 1609 by the occupation of the [[Duchy of Cleves]].  A century later, [[Prussian Guelders|Upper Guelders]] and [[Moers]] also became Prussian. The [[Congress of Vienna]] expelled the French and assigned the whole of the lower Rhenish districts to Prussia, who left them in undisturbed possession of the liberal institutions to which they had become accustomed under the French.<ref name="eb1911">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Rhine Province|volume=23|pages = 242&ndash;243|short=1}}</ref> The Rhine Province remained part of Prussia after [[Unification of Germany|Germany was unified in 1871.]]<ref>{{cite EB9 |wstitle = Prussia, Rhenish |volume= XX |last1= Muirhead |first1= James Fullarton |author1-link= James Fullarton Muirhead | pages =  |short=1}}</ref>