Austria-Hungary The Leaders The Problems The 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