Decline of Austrian Influence 1815 to 1866 Key Individuals By Simo Bentaleb

List of Key Individuals Metternich Pope Pius Bismarck Lajos Kossuth Wilhelm I Mazzini

Metternich (1815 – 1848) Ruled with an iron hand Anti-liberal Indirect + direct influence over many of the Italian states Example : Secret Police , Censorship , Karlsbad Decrees , Six Articles.

Pope Pius Elected in 1846 Promoted Liberalism Proposed legal and judicial reforms Suggested an Italian customs Union Granted three major reforms:  freedom of the press (led to independent free-thinking journals)  setting up of a Consulta  appointment of a civic guard. Most of his reforms opposed Metternich anti-liberalism.

Bismarck Prussian Prime minister from 1862 – 1871 Rejects Austrian proposal to reform the German Confederation Convinces Wilhelm I to attend Austrian-sponsored Congress of German Princes Defeated Austria in the Austro-Prussian war of 1866 Treaty of Prague expelled Austria from the German Confederation Excluded Austria from any German affairs

Lajos Kossuth (1830 – 1840) Promoted nationalism and liberalism Called for an independent Hungarian Parliament Sought for freedom of speech Believed that Hungary was being exploited by Austria Wanted tariffs for all the goods entering Hungary to encourage its economic growth

Wilhelm I King of Prussia from 1861 to 1871 Approved Bismarck actions Approved military reforms ( helped increase Prussia’s hegemony throughout Europe to oppose Austria for political freedom)