☰ Contents · World history

The Austro-Hungarian Empire

Lessons 22–23 · 2 lessons · M. Lafasov, U. Jo‘rayev, E. Xoliqov, D. Qodirova. Jahon tarixi (World history), Grade 9, revised 3rd edition. “O‘qituvchi” Publishing House, Tashkent, 2014
22

The Austro-Hungarian Empire in the late 19th – early 20th century

Textbook: pp. 76–79
GoalExplain Austria-Hungary’s structure, economy, social movement and national question.
New words
Habsburgs: the ruling dynasty of Austria (1867–1918 in the dual monarchy) · Gabsburglarfederation: a union state made of several parts with some political autonomy · federatsiyatrialism: the idea of a third, Slavic part of the empire with equal rights · trializmnational liberation movement · milliy-ozodlik harakati
Explanation

The Austro-Hungarian Empire arose in 1867 from an agreement between the ruling circles of Austria and Hungary. The emperor came from the Habsburg dynasty (Franz Joseph); each half had its own parliament (the Reichsrat in Austria, the Diet in Hungary), while the ministries of foreign affairs, war and finance were common. Because the emperor’s power was limited by parliaments, it counts as a constitutional monarchy. Slavic peoples made up nearly half of the population. Economically it lagged behind Western Europe: in the 1890s town dwellers were only one third; industry grew in Lower Austria and Bohemia, food processing led in Hungary, and the empire grew dependent on foreign, especially German, capital. In 1889 the Austrian Social Democratic Party was formed; in 1907 universal male suffrage was introduced. The national question was sharp: following Czech demands two languages were introduced in Bohemia in 1880 and from 1882 the Prague university taught in German and Czech; discontent grew in Galicia, Croatia and elsewhere. In 1912 an economic crisis occurred; the idea of trialism (three equal parts) was rejected by the ruling circles.

Worked examples
Common and separate: common – foreign, war and finance ministries; separate – two parliaments and internal administration. That is why it is called a “dual monarchy”.
The trialism idea: Austria + Hungary + Slavic lands as three equal parts. Rejected out of fear of Slavic strengthening.
Class activity

“Map of peoples”: on a map of Austria-Hungary mark the lands of Czechs, Slovaks, Croats, Poles, Ukrainians and others.

Practice
1
When was Austria-Hungary created and which dynasty ruled it?
2
Which were the empire’s common ministries?
3
What was introduced in Bohemia in 1880?
4
Why were national tensions strong inside the empire?