THE AUSTRIAN EMPIRE

A Multinational Challenge

The Austrian Empire in 1848 was home to many ethnic groups: Germans, Hungarians, Czechs, Slovaks, Italians, Croats, and more. Each wanted greater independence and self-rule. The empire’s leader, Prince Metternich, had long tried to keep control through censorship and strict laws, but his system began to crack.

In March 1848, revolts broke out in Vienna, the empire’s capital. Students and workers demanded freedom of the press, a constitution, and reforms. Similar uprisings happened in Hungary and Bohemia (today’s Czech Republic). Metternich fled the country, and Emperor Ferdinand promised reforms.

However, the empire’s rulers soon fought back. They used their army, and help from Russia, to crush the revolts. Although the revolutions failed, they exposed the empire’s deep internal divisions and planted the seeds of nationalism that would later break Austria apart.