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Czechoslovakia THE DUAL MONARCHY, 1867-1918
Formation of the Dual System
After the revolutions of 1848, Francis Joseph attempted to
rule as an absolute monarch, keeping all the nationalities in
check. But the Hapsburgs suffered a series of defeats. In 1859
they were driven out of Italy, and in 1866 they were defeated by
Prussia and expelled from the German Confederation. To strengthen
his position, Francis Joseph was ready to improve his relations
with the Hungarians. At first it seemed that some concessions
would be made to Bohemia, but in the end the crown effected a
compromise with the Hungarian gentry. The Compromise of 1867
established the Dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary (also known as
the Austro-Hungarian Empire). The two parts of the empire were
united by a common ruler, by a joint foreign policy, and, to some
extent, by shared finances. Otherwise, Austria and Hungary were
virtually independent states, each having its own parliament,
government, administration, and judicial system.
Despite a series of crises, this dual system survived until
1918. It made permanent the dominant position of the Hungarians
in Hungary and of the Germans in the Austrian parts of the
monarchy. While Czechs, Poles, and other nationalities had some
influence in government, they were never permitted to share
political power. This inability to come to terms with its
nationalities contributed to the ultimate collapse of the Dual
Monarchy.
As a result of the dual system, the Czechs and Slovaks
continued to go their separate ways. The Slovaks chafed under the
Hungarians, and the Czechs were ruled by Vienna. The Austrian and
Hungarian parts of the empire had different political systems.
Austria had a parliamentary government, and a gradual enlargement
of the franchise culminated in universal male suffrage in 1907.
The Czechs, therefore, were able to take a greater and greater
part in the political life of Austria. In Hungary the franchise
continued to be fairly restricted and pretty much controlled by
the Hungarian aristocracy. Because of this, very few Slovaks
gained positions of importance in Hungary.
Data as of August 1987
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