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CAUSES:
1. Overpopulation and agricultural crisis
* 75% inhabitant lived in the countryside
* Bad harvests 1845-7
2. Urbanisation
* Migration of peasants to town - not enough work - unemployment
3. Nationalism
* Nationalist movements among Italians, Hungarians and Czechs - different political aims.
Italians: full independent
Czechs: self-rule
Hungarians: some - full independent, most- self-rule
4. Liberalism
* Liberals-create a new constitution:
Guaranteed civil rights
Set up elected assembly - limit the emperor's power
FALL OF METTERNICH
Started - France
Overthrow of King Louis Philippe spread in Vienna- people hopes for change in Empire
Threatened Chancellor Metternich - had an idea of military intervention-restore Louis-Philippe-lack of fund
3 March - Lajos Kossuth made a speech in the Hungarian Diet- self government for Hungary
Called for complete dismantling of the old system
Copies of speech spread in Vienna
12 March - university student drafted a petition - liberal reforms:
Press freedom
Jury trials
Emancipation of serfs
Constitutional government
Presented to Archduke Ludwig - Emperor's uncle
13 March - Austrian Diet - met to debate reforms proposals
Students burst into the buildings - Diet break up
Moved to the imperial palace - main target, Metternich
Protest turns into riot -
Emperor left with 2 alternatives: 1. Give in the people demands
2. Use forces to suppress the rioters
Within the court - strong anti-Metternich faction led by Archduke John and Kolowrat
To persuade the Emperor and Archduke Ludwig to remove the Chancellor
1. Overpopulation and agricultural crisis
* 75% inhabitant lived in the countryside
* Bad harvests 1845-7
2. Urbanisation
* Migration of peasants to town - not enough work - unemployment
3. Nationalism
* Nationalist movements among Italians, Hungarians and Czechs - different political aims.
Italians: full independent
Czechs: self-rule
Hungarians: some - full independent, most- self-rule
4. Liberalism
* Liberals-create a new constitution:
Guaranteed civil rights
Set up elected assembly - limit the emperor's power
FALL OF METTERNICH
Started - France
Overthrow of King Louis Philippe spread in Vienna- people hopes for change in Empire
Threatened Chancellor Metternich - had an idea of military intervention-restore Louis-Philippe-lack of fund
3 March - Lajos Kossuth made a speech in the Hungarian Diet- self government for Hungary
Called for complete dismantling of the old system
Copies of speech spread in Vienna
12 March - university student drafted a petition - liberal reforms:
Press freedom
Jury trials
Emancipation of serfs
Constitutional government
Presented to Archduke Ludwig - Emperor's uncle
13 March - Austrian Diet - met to debate reforms proposals
Students burst into the buildings - Diet break up
Moved to the imperial palace - main target, Metternich
Protest turns into riot -
Emperor left with 2 alternatives: 1. Give in the people demands
2. Use forces to suppress the rioters
Within the court - strong anti-Metternich faction led by Archduke John and Kolowrat
To persuade the Emperor and Archduke Ludwig to remove the Chancellor