B<span>y proclaiming neutrality and signing treaties with Britain and Spain.</span>
The Zollverein was an economic union of 30 states. The correct option among all the options given in the question is option "b". Zollverein is actually a coalition of German states whose main agenda was to manage the tariffs and all the economic policies within the German territories. Later on it expanded to other European countries as well.
Back then , the city was shocked by smallpox epidemic. Since smallpox is easily transmitted by contact, overcrowded areas are the perfect breeding spot for smallpox ( they still has not developed small pox vaccine back then)