was a conservative absolutist monarch. He reigned by intimidation and he had an informer network too. At that time, Hungary was really far behind the Czech and Austrian provinces in development: the country relied on the agricultural production and the guild system, which strict regulations prevented the development of the industry and the trade. The revolutionary wave which swept through Europe brought two new ideas to Hungary too: nationalism and liberalism. But what did they want? They wanted to convert the old and outdated feudal economy and society to a new and modern one. The solution was brought by the deepening crisis of the feudal system, in which the nobility had to make some changes in their situation, therefore they saw the way out of this crisis with the introduction of embourgeoisement. In István Széchenyi’s work, Credit, he raises the idea of the abolition of antiquity and the elimination of robotic systems, because he realized that the agriculture wouldn’t develop and the land sales wouldn’t grow, if they keep these restrictions, because the people can’t get credit to their lands.
The Reform Diets
1825–27 After many years, a Diet was convened in Bratislava in 1825. The reason why it was convened is that there were some international problems in 1820. The king, Francis I promised to return to the feudal constitution, but in exchange the nobility had to increase the tax and rookie headcount. This diet weren’t a Reform Diet, but this was the first one in which some progress were made: they had to convene the parliament/diet every 3 years and István Széchenyi offered his annual income to establish a Hungarian Academy of Sciences. 1832–36 Antecedents: cholera outbreak in 1831->serf uprising in Upper Hungary The diet’s lower house accepted the serfs voluntary redemption but the monarch rejected that Also: new monarch: Ferdinand I of Austria 1839–40 The introduction of the voluntary redemption Jewish emancipation 1843–44 Hungarian became the official language Protectionist tariffs-> Védegylet is established 1847–48 Kossuth became the emissary of Pest Adoption of the April Laws in March 1848 : introduction of a new form of government ; declaration of civil liberties; abolition of the old, feudal social and legal system.
-conservative -aristocrat from Wien -slow modernisation with the leading role of the aristocrats and maintaining the good relations with the Habsburgs -no political reforms -no independent Hungarian industry -only the agriculture, trade and society should be modernized -free trade Really important figure because he brought modern technology to Hungary such as steamboats, locomotives, horse-breeding, steam mills, Chain Bridge, casinos, river channeling, etc.
