Nationalism vs. Old
Empires
The Austrian and Ottoman Empires
Austria
• Austria-Hungary
• Early 1800’s, the Hapsburgs still rule; Emperor Francis I
• “Rule and change nothing” “Peoples… What does that
mean?”
• Congress of Vienna 1815, Metternich saves the
monarchy (no unity for Germany or Italy)
• 1840’s, change is inevitable; Industrial Revolution;
growth of cities, and worker discontent
• Hapsburgs: Ind. Rev. is a threat to traditional ways of life
Austria
• Hapsburgs rule a divided multinational empire
• 50M; < ¼ are German/Austrians, others are Czechs,
Slovaks, Poles, Ukrainians, Serbs, Croats, Slovenes and
Italians. Problem; ethnic groups share the same region
• National minorities were a threat to Austria’s Hapsburgs
• How does nationalism both help and hurt countries??
• Rule of Francis Joseph, 1848 – 1916
• Grants a constitution and a 2 house legislature
• Satisfies the German/Austrians; other ethnic groups-not!
Austria and Hungary
and Dual Monarchy
• Austro-Prussian War of 1866 encourages nationalism
• Austria and Hungary become separate states
• Francis Joseph rules both
• Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary
• Separate constitutions and parliaments
• Shared ministers of finance, defense and foreign affairs
• The Slavic nationalities are not happy; no relief until
WWI
Balkan Nationalism
• The Ottoman Empire/Balkan Peninsula, like Austria Hungary, is a multinational empire
• Europe calls the empire “The sick man of Europe”
• Serbia wins autonomy in 1817
• Greece wins independence in 1830
• The Balkans remain a “powder keg” until WW I due to conflicting
interests in the region
• Russia wants a warm water port, i.e. Istanbul
• Britain and France make bids for sections
• Austria-Hungary take Bosnia and Herzegovina
• It is an incredibly unstable area for over 50 years