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.