European Political Landscape: 1871-1914
Europe 1871-1914
Europe 1914: The Ottoman Empire lost territory. Albania emerged as a nation. Greece and Bulgaria gained territory.
Political Map with State Boundaries and Political Systems:
- Liberal Democracy (Consolidated)
- Liberal Democracy (Not Consolidated)
- Authoritarian Regimes (Transitioning)
- Authoritarian Regimes
Comparison of English and French Political Systems
Characteristics of the English Political System:
- Stable Constitution
- Invitation to participate in liberal politics
- Female influence in the upper class
- Continuous improvements without major issues
- Power held by the most capable
- Freedom of expression and association
- Well-informed press
Comparison of the Electoral Reforms of 1832, 1867, and 1884
Victorian England (UK)
Major Political Reforms Made by Gladstone’s Governments:
- Trade Union Act
- Justice Reform
- Extension of Suffrage
- Religious Reform: Separation of Church and State
- Educational Reform: Religious freedom and compulsory education
Gladstone’s Government:
Religious, educational, and justice reforms, expansion of suffrage, trade unions, etc.
- Trade Union Act (1871-1877): Legalized trade unions
- Electoral Reform Act (1884): Extended suffrage to 5,000,000 voters
- Irish Home Rule: Empowerment of women
- 1893: The Labour Party (the Socialist party in England). Increased influence of trade unions.
- 1918: Universal male suffrage
- 1928: Universal women’s suffrage
Irish War of Independence (1918-1921)
Ireland was theoretically independent but under English rule. Constant challenges against joining the United Kingdom. Great Britain held land in Ireland under its control. In 1800, a unified state was created, regenerating the United Kingdom. Ireland felt dominated and created an anti-English parliament. This conflict escalated in 1870. Attempts were made to halt land reform and an agreement was signed between the British government and the Irish leader, backed by Pope Leo XIII, who advised moderation to prevent potential civil war. Ireland created an autonomous government with limited jurisdiction.
The Irish nationalist issue remained unresolved until the 1916 Easter Rising. The goal was an independent state. Full independence wasn’t achieved, but Ireland was divided. Northern Ireland became part of Great Britain, while the south remained united and independent.
France
Napoleon III liberalized his regime from 1860 onwards. His authoritarian empire was forced to liberalize due to the growing labor movement demanding rights and freedoms.
Reforms included representative government, press freedom, educational reforms, and the right to strike and association for workers. Parliament gained influence over the government.
Reforms of the Third Republic (1870-1914)
Two Stages:
- Conservative: Repression of dissent
- Republican: Social reforms
Social Reforms:
- Secular education
- Social hygiene legislation and workplace safety laws
- Right to association: Legalization of trade unions (1884)
Political Reforms:
- Universal male suffrage
- Bicameral parliament (Senate and Assembly)
- Strengthened executive power
Germany
The Second German Reich was created in 1871 under Bismarck’s leadership after three wars. This led to a liberal and federal political system. Economic development followed, making Germany a leading industrial power. Germany had universal male suffrage (over 25 years old). Power was divided under a moderate authoritarian regime, with the emperor holding significant power. Parliament did not control the executive.
Church and State:
- Bismarck promoted separation of church and state, with state control over the clergy.
- Anti-clerical laws were later abolished, restoring the church-state relationship. Germany was not a secular state.
Rights and freedoms were limited, and the German Workers’ Party was banned. Bismarck implemented social reforms (illness, accidents, and old age). Freedom of association and the union movement were not fully legal until the end of 1918.
Multinational Empires
Habsburg Empire
:
It is a multinational state. This Shaver developed nations nationalism and nationalist movements that pursued separate from the empire and created the nation-state. The most important moment was the Revolution of 1948, which failed. In the late nineteenth century remains a multinational state. It is an empire where cnetralitzat send the Germans and Hungarians. In 1867, a compromise between Austria and Hungarian nationalism and the dual monarchy was created (is a monarchy which recognizes two Kingdoms, Austria and Hungary under lemperador dAustria) but also recognizes that the United dHongria. United had the laws, various government and parliament, Austria gives autonomy to Hungary. Nationalism plantejan the slaves, the Balkans, an area contested by Austria-Hungary had to expand the narrow area of the Black Sea.
Russian Empire:
Is multinational but did not kill the political system lAustrohongarès the Russian Empire now an authoritarian regime close to the monarchy. The emperors were Alexander II, III and Alexnadre Nicalau. Russian empire was in power in lautocràcia.
* Also multinational, with subject nations, many peoples subject to the dominant Russian, implementation of their culture that the Rusificacio (language, traditions, ..)
* Autocratic state, without separation of powers, all the powers had the Tsar (Emperor) which is authoritarian and arvitrari, there is no constitution or laws and suffrage llivertats. For this reason there is to harass and represió loposició.
The first opposition was repressed and persecuted were nihilists, anarchists and populristes pursued by Alexander II was to reform education and labolició as the easement, but did improve the situation of farmers who sell or continue under the Tsar or the nobility .
Time dAlexandre III, was even more conservative and increased or remained the rusificació represió of loposició and so he created a political police.
At the time of Nicholas II, the situation is the same but will be forced to accept liberal reforms, continued policy against represiva opresors movements that focus on a moviemnt liberal and will vote in restricted suffrage. There were socialists and anarchists, Marxists (workers and peasants).
Turkish Empire:
But also an authoritarian theocracy (God’s power) that the orders, is the Sultan has lautoritat political and religious at the same time. The name given in Boston lautoritat religious and political Sultán but are the same person. There are no rights or freedoms or democracy. We create a liberal opposition to the number of young Turks, had any attempt that failed revolution and how young Turks were exiled and persecuted. As a multinational state nations or peoples Turkish people were not prosecuted.