Was the Habsburg Empire on the point of collapse by 1914
Was the Habsburg Empire on the point of collapse by 1914?
During the late 19th Century it can be argued that the Habsburg Empire was weakening and by 1914 during the dawn of the First World War it was on the point of collapse this could be due to several intertwining factors such as nationalism or politics. However some historians disagree this view and they would argue that the Empire was indeed becoming stronger. This essay will explore why the Habsburg Empire was on the brink of collapsing by 1914.
The first and possibly the most important reason why the Habsburg Empire was on the point of collapsing is because its weak nature was highlighted when in 1905 the Hungarian Independence Party won the election and as the historians Wolfson and Laver write “Since it still refused to approve an increase in the army Franz Josef appointed his own Prime Minister, Baron Fejerváry and sent troops to disperse the Hungarian Parliament.” This shows that the Habsburg Empire was weakening as Hungary’s refusal to support the Austrian army could be seen to reflect a desire for control of their own armed forces which would create further independence from the Empire. R.J. Crampton also writes “Magyarisation intensified after the turn of the century. A Constitutional confrontation with Austria had ended with the emperor threatening to impose universal and equal suffrage on his Hungarian kingdom.” Whilst both historians say essentially say the same thing, Wolfson and Laver however give a more balanced viewpoint as Crompton has a very narrow view on the Magyars.
The second most important reason why the Habsburg Empire was on the point of collapse is because of nationalism. Austria-Hungary consisted of a lot of different nationalities all wanting to become increasingly independent. Sally Marks wrote: “By 1900 the Habsburg Empire was increasingly seen as the new hospital patient.” Meaning that like the Turkish Empire before it nationalistic opposition began to grow and develop and
During the late 19th Century it can be argued that the Habsburg Empire was weakening and by 1914 during the dawn of the First World War it was on the point of collapse this could be due to several intertwining factors such as nationalism or politics. However some historians disagree this view and they would argue that the Empire was indeed becoming stronger. This essay will explore why the Habsburg Empire was on the brink of collapsing by 1914.
The first and possibly the most important reason why the Habsburg Empire was on the point of collapsing is because its weak nature was highlighted when in 1905 the Hungarian Independence Party won the election and as the historians Wolfson and Laver write “Since it still refused to approve an increase in the army Franz Josef appointed his own Prime Minister, Baron Fejerváry and sent troops to disperse the Hungarian Parliament.” This shows that the Habsburg Empire was weakening as Hungary’s refusal to support the Austrian army could be seen to reflect a desire for control of their own armed forces which would create further independence from the Empire. R.J. Crampton also writes “Magyarisation intensified after the turn of the century. A Constitutional confrontation with Austria had ended with the emperor threatening to impose universal and equal suffrage on his Hungarian kingdom.” Whilst both historians say essentially say the same thing, Wolfson and Laver however give a more balanced viewpoint as Crompton has a very narrow view on the Magyars.
The second most important reason why the Habsburg Empire was on the point of collapse is because of nationalism. Austria-Hungary consisted of a lot of different nationalities all wanting to become increasingly independent. Sally Marks wrote: “By 1900 the Habsburg Empire was increasingly seen as the new hospital patient.” Meaning that like the Turkish Empire before it nationalistic opposition began to grow and develop and