Nationalism Threatens Old Empires
10.4
Main Idea
Desires for the national independence threatened to break up the Austrian and
Ottoman empires.
Fast Facts of Austrian Empire
The Hapburgs had controlled the Holy Roman Empire for 400 years when Napoleon invaded the German speaking states.
They lost territory to Germany and Italy
Ruling over a large area full of ethnically diverse people led to nationalist feelings.
This contributed to tensions building across Europe.
A Declining Empire The Hapsburgs- oldest ruling family in Europe
Called Austria home, but ruled over Bohemia, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Ukraine, and N. Italy
Feelings of nationalism among ethnically diverse groups contribute to tensions.
Challenges of Change
“Rule and change nothing.” –Austrian Emperor Francis I.
Upheld conservative goals against liberal forces.
“Constitution” banned from being spoken or written
Limited industrial development, which would threaten traditional ways of life.
Austria, however, could not hold back the changes that were engulfing the rest of Europe.
By the 1840s- idea of industrialization, growing cities, worker discontent, rumblings of socialism
A Patchwork of People
50 million people lived in the their empire
About 20% German speaking Austrians
Made up of many different cultures and nations.
Almost half belonged to Slavic groups; Czech, Slovaks, Poles, Ukrainians, Romanians, Croats, Hungarians, Italians
Hapsburgs ignored demands of nationalistic leaders of differing ethnicities
Constant revolts against the Hapsburg rule
Early Reforms (Son) Francis Joseph-
inherits throne at 18, will rule until 1916
Granted limited reforms
New constitution that set up a legislature
Legislature made up of German speaking Austrians, doing nothing for other national groups around the empire.
Formation of a Dual Monarchy
After defeat in the Austro-Prussian war in 1866, Hungarians renewed pressure for change within the empire
Francis Deak – Hungarian nationalist who worked out a compromise between Hungary and Austria
Dual Monarchy- New Empire called Austria Hungary
Austrian- Hungarian Government
Austria and Hungary- two separate states.
With respective parliament and constitution
Francis Joseph ruled both
Shared some government offices; ministries of finance, defense, and foreign affairs, but were independent of each other on other areas
Nationalist Unrest Increases
Hungarians welcome compromise, but others express dislike of government
Early 1900s, restlessness increased among various Slavic groups
especially the Czechs in Bohemia
Collapse of the Ottoman Empire
Multinational empire stretching from Asia through the Middle East into Eastern Europe and Africa.
Balkan Nationalism Balkans- Southeastern
Europeans, made of of countries such as Greece, Serbia, Turkey, etc..
Serbia (1817) & Greece (1830s) won autonomy
However, many Serbs and Greeks still lived in Balkans under Ottoman rule
Throughout 1800s revolts staged against Ottomans, in hopes of setting up independent states
“The Sick Man of Europe”
Ottoman Empire began crumbling, rivals divide land
Russia and Austria Hungary take land
Britain & France set their sights on Ottoman lands in the Middle East and North Africa.
War in Balkans Complex web of competing interests
contributed to series of crisis and wars in the Balkans.
Russians will fight several wars against Ottomans. France and Britain sometimes join with the Russian, sometimes with the Ottomans.
In general, the spark of Nationalism has led to the break up of the Austrian and Ottoman Empires.