Austria-HungaryThe Leaders
The ProblemsThe Decline
Basic Information Had 11 different national groups
In Austria = Germans In Hungary = Magyars
Problems in the area: No national or geographic unity
Wealthy landowners dominate peasants Censorship and intimidation
Wealthy and leaders resistant to change
New Ideas in Austria by 1848
People want change: free press/speech, no feudalism, representative government
Radical groups with different goals fought themselves = easier for conservatives to take control
Example: In Vienna, middle-class people wanted to change the government and radical workers wanted to totally do away with it
Where is all this?? (Dark Green in Middle)
Metternich Remember?? Headed
the Congress of Vienna Feared that nationalism
and democracy would destroy Austria
Tried to crush all attempts at revolutionary activity
Francis Joseph (Franz Josef)
Ruled for 68 years Restored conservative
government – threw out constitution and disbanded revolutionary gov’t
Tried to unify country… but internal nationalism (revolutionary acts) and foreign struggles (war with Prussia, loss of land to Italy) diminish influence
The Dual Monarchy
Francis Joseph strikes a deal with Hungarian leader Francis Deak called the Ausgleich
Francis Joseph is leader of both as the emperor of Austria and the king of Hungary
What was shared: depts. of foreign affairs, war, and finance Economically dependent on each other Politically independent – each had its own system of government
(constitution, gov’t bodies, etc.)
The People 3/5 of the population was not German or
Hungarian Poles Czechs Slovaks Serbs Bosnians
Who Lives in These Areas?
The Balkans This area was of great concern to many
different countries: Austria (desire to expand), France (protect persecuted Catholics), Great Britain (fear economic disruption), Russia (desire to expand)
It was of greater concern to those living there that desired their own governments (nationalism)
The Congress of Vienna Cause
Russia had gone to war to support Slavic people against Turkey (a.k.a. Ottoman Empire) who ruled the area
Russia won = get control over a large area of Bulgaria Other countries didn’t like this and called the Congress of
Vienna
Effect Bulgaria split into 3 parts Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania get independence Britain controls Cyprus Austria-Hungary controls Bosnia and Herzegovina Problems: Russia and Ottomans lose land; some
nationalities did not get independence
Where are the Balkans?
So…What’s the Problem?
Like other Europeans, different ethnic groups in the Balkans experienced NATIONALISM
Austria-Hungary wanted these areas under their control….
….but so did Russia…. ….but the people here wanted to control
themselves!!! All this = tension
More Problems in the Balkans
Balkan League is created – made up of Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia
Balkan League to war against Ottomans – Ottomans lose all land in Europe
Balkan nations start fighting among themselves – Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia vs. Bulgaria
New nationalism threatens all in the area
The “Powder Keg”
Nationalism in the Balkans concerns others in Europe: Slavic nationalism threatens power of Austria-Hungary Russia supports Slavic nationalism Germany, France, Britain concerned about balance of
power – that Russia or Austria Hungary would get too much power
ALL OF THIS TENSION LEADS THIS AREA TO BE CALLED THE “POWDER KEG” – IT WILL BE A KEY PLAYER IN MANY EVENTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE ONSET OF
WWI