Austrian Democratization
A history of Austrian democratization.
For the less democratic side of these events, see the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
Contents
Revolutions of 1848
Dissent reached Vienna in early 1848; Windischgrätz established a policy of martial law and brutal force. This put him at odds with city politicians and he was reassigned to govern Prague.
The Whitsuntide events erupted there in June, and the Vienna Uprising erupted in October. Windischgrätz led the repression of each uprising.
There were related events within the empire in Hungary and Serbia, and related international conflicts with Italy.
Ferdinand I abdicated in December and Franz Joseph I became emperor.
Kremsier and Imposed March Constitutions
An elected reichstag (imperial diet) was convened between July 1848 and March 1849 to draft a new constitution. Originally located in Vienna, the diet was moved to Kremsier following the imposition of matrial law there. For this reason, it also came to be known as the Kremsier Parliament and their draft of the constitution as the Kremsier Constitution.
Franz Joseph I preempted the diet with the Imposed March Constitution, which established the absolute powers of the Austrian emperor. He established a reichsrat (imperial council) to which he appointed all members.
February Patent
A conciliatory October Diploma was promulgated by Franz Joseph I in 1860. This reformed the reichsrat into a partially-elected legislature, and effectively established a federal system for the empire. Provincial diets were granted more autonomy. This failed to affect any support for the empire.
The February Patent in 1861 superceded this. The reichsrat was again reformed, now into a bicameral elected legislature. The Herrenhaus (House of Lords) was composed of imperial archdukes, certain nobility, archbishops, and life peers. The Abgeordnetenhaus (House of Deputies) was composed of 343 politicians elected by provincial diets in the crownlands. In particular, 120 deputies were allocated to Hungary.
First Republic of Austria
The Republic of Austria, sometimes called the First Republic, was formed by the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Federal State of Austria
Anschluss
Second Republic of Austria
Simnilar to Germany, Austria was divided into several separably-administered occupation zones. While the occupation continued, self-government under a Second Republic, also formally named the Republic of Austria, was allowed.