Austria-Hungary’s Decline Academic World History II

Austria-Hungary’s Decline There were 3 major powers in early 1800s eastern Europe.eastern Europe 1.Russia 2.Ottoman Empire 3.Austria The Austrian Empire contained 11 different national groups. – Austria lacked national and geographic unity. Like Russia, Austria's economy was based on agriculture. – A powerful nobility controlled the land and the peasant population.

The Revolution of 1848 The principal political figure in Austria during the early 1800s was Prince Klemens von Metternich. – Throughout his rule as minister of foreign affairs ( ) he worked to crush all revolutionary activity. The revolutionary movement that started in France spread to Austria. – Nationalist groups demanded freedom of speech/press, freeing of peasants, and representative government. – At age 18, Francis Joseph took over as emperor. He dissolved the revolutionary assembly and rejected the constitution.

The Dual Monarchy Several challenges would be presented to Francis Joseph’s empire. – In 1848, Hungarian nationalists (Magyars) declared independence. – It was unsuccessful, but Francis Joseph realized that he needed better relations with the Hungarians. – Francis Joseph met with Hungarian leader Francis Deak to try to work out a compromise. In 1867, the Ausgleich restored Hungary’s independence and established a dual monarchy. – Francis Joseph was ruler of both areas.

The Dual Monarchy, cont. Austria and Hungary depended on each other economically. – After the dual monarchy was declared, Austria began to industrialize more rapidly. – Bohemia and Moravia became urban centers. The dual monarchy satisfied the Austrians and the Magyars. – Other nationalities, including the Slavs, were unhappy. – Many Slavs, who had no voice in government, wanted to break free and form a large Slavic kingdom.

Powder Keg in the Balkans By the mid-1800s, the Ottoman Empire was weakening. – Other countries watched the decline, hoping to expand in this region. – Austria, France, and Great Britain wanted to prevent Russian expansion into these areas. During the Crimean War allies helped protect the Ottoman Empire from Russian expansion. – The Ottoman Empire continued to lose power and territory in the late 1800s and early 1900s.Ottoman Empire

The Congress of Berlin Russia went to war with the Ottoman Empire in – Russia used the Slavic nationalist movement to justify expansion. – The treaty of San Stefano ended this war and created a Bulgarian state which was controlled by Russia. – European countries protested the treaty of San Stefano. Jingoism, or extreme patriotism, developed in Great Britain. Many British wanted to go to war with Russia. – European leaders met in Berlin to revise the treaty in 1878.

Balkan Conflict Bulgaria was divided into three parts. – One part remained under Ottoman rule. – Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania became independent. – Britain gained Cyprus, Austria-Hungary controlled Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Congress of Berlin satisfied few. By 1912, people of the Balkans joined forces to free members of their nationalities from Ottoman rule. – The Balkan League, which consisted of Bulgaria, Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia declared war on Turkey in The Ottomans lost all of their European territory except for Istanbul.

Balkan Conflict, cont. Members of the Balkan league began to fight among themselves. – Serbia and Bulgaria had secretly arranged land distribution in the event that the Balkan League won. – After the victory, Bulgaria refused to go along with the agreement. – This led to another Balkan War when Bulgaria attacked Greek and Serb forces in the disputed areas. – Other Balkan states joined the effort against Bulgaria. The Treaty of Bucharest ended this war in Bulgaria, which lost the war, surrendered much of the land it previously won.

The treaty of Bucharest didn’t bring peace. – Serbia’s increased power was a threat to Austria- Hungary. – Russia sought to gain land and influence in the Balkans. – The French, British, and Germans wanted to preserve the balance of power and keep Austria-Hungary and Russia from gaining more power. – The “Powder Keg of Europe” would soon erupt into a major European conflict.Powder Keg of Europe