Nationalist demands from ethnic groups weakened and ultimately destroyed the Austrian and Ottoman empires. In the Austrian empire, nationalist revolts in 1848 pushed the empire to form the Dual Monarchy in 1867, giving Hungary more autonomy but not satisfying other groups. In the Ottoman empire, nationalist revolts and European interference led to independence for some states by 1878 and wars that further weakened the empire. Both empires struggled to manage nationalist unrest from diverse ethnic groups seeking self-rule.

1. 22.4 Nationalism Threatens Old Empires

2. How did the desire for national
independence among ethnic groups
weaken and ultimately destroy the
Austrian and Ottoman empires?

3. During the early 1800s, the Hapsburg rulers
of Austria tried to prevent change and
ignored liberal demands.
They even tried Nevertheless,
to prevent factories sprung
industrialization, up by the 1840s
fearing that it in Hapsburg lands
would change the and caused
empire’s traditional changes, including
way of life. the growth of cities.

4. Austria was an empire of very diverse people
with rival goals. Nationalist feelings grew during
the mid 1800s.
Nationalists made demands of the Hapsburg
rulers. They wanted self-government.
A nationalist revolt broke out in 1848, and the
Hapsburg government crushed it.

5. The Hungarians wanted the right to rule themselves.
Francis Joseph, who inherited
the Hapsburg throne amid the
1848 uprising, made some
reforms including the formation
of a legislature.
This did not satisfy the
Hungarians, however, because
the body was led by German-
speaking Austrians.

6. A moderate Hungarian
After Austria’s leader named Ferenc
defeat in its war Deák helped to work
with Prussia, out a solution.
Hungarians
pressured the The Dual Monarchy
Hapsburgs for of Austria-Hungary was
a compromise. formed in 1867.

7. The Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary
Separate Shared
• Each had its own • Francis Joseph ruled both,
constitution. as emperor of Austria and
• Each had its own king of Hungary.
parliament. • They shared ministries
of finance, defense, and
foreign affairs.

8. Hungarians were
Despite the happy, but others
compromise, were not. Slavic
nationalist unrest people still lacked a
continued to voice in government,
increase in the for example, and
empire. nationalist leaders
called on them to
unite.
Unrest from nationalists paralyzed governments in
the early 1900s.

9. Europe was
a patchwork
of different
nationalities
between 1800
and 1914.
Nationalists
pushed for self-
rule, which
brought about the
decline of the
Austrian and
Ottoman empires.

10. Nationalist demands
The Ottoman put pressure on the
empire faced empire’s leaders.
the same
problem as Many revolts broke out
the Austrian against the Ottomans in
empire. the 1800s as nationalist
groups sought self-rule.

11. Some states gained independence from
the Ottomans by 1878.

12. In addition to trouble from the nationalists,
the Ottoman empire faced invasions from
Europe in the mid 1800s.
As a result, a series
Russia pushed of wars broke out.
toward Istanbul Russians fought
and Austria- against the Ottomans,
Hungary took and subject peoples
control of two revolted. The region
provinces. became known as the
“Balkan powder keg.”

13. How did the desire for national
independence among ethnic groups
weaken and ultimately destroy the
Austrian and Ottoman empires?
In 1867 Austria formed the Dual Monarchy,
giving Hungary its own constitution and
parliament. Other groups continued to press for
national freedom. In the Ottoman empire,
various ethnic groups demanded independence,
and European powers competing for influence
supported some of these groups.