Lesson #11 - The Bosnian Crisis and The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

The Bosnian Crisis and the Assassination of Franz Ferdinand

The Austro-Hungarian Empire

While other European countries competed for colonies in Asia and Africa, Austria set up an empire in southeastern Europe. Austria united with Hungary in 1867 becoming Austria-Hungary (also known as the Dual Empire). Austria-Hungary was an imperialist country and took control of much of southeastern Europe. Austria-Hungary rivaled Russia for territory in southeastern Europe and the two empires began to distrust each other.

Austria-Hungary set up a large and powerful empire in southeastern Europe, controlling the second most territory in Europe (after Russia) and the third largest population in Europe (after Russia and Germany). Austria-Hungary also was one of the strongest industrial nations in the world, behind Britain, the United States, and Germany.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire included several ethnic groups. Austria-Hungary recognized five official languages and over a dozen languages were commonly spoken in Austria-Hungary.

The Bosnian Crisis

By 1878, Bosnia and Herzegovina had come under Austro-Hungarian military and political rule. In 1908, Austria-Hungary annexed Bosnia and Herzegovina, helping bring about the Bosnian Crisis. The annexation of Bosnia sparked protests from most European countries, including Austria-Hungary's neighbors Italy, Serbia, and Russia. The relationship between Austria-Hungary and Serbia, and Austria-Hungary and Russia became strained.

The annexation of Bosnia took place the same month as Bulgaria’s declaration of independence, causing several ethnic groups (particularly Slavic people such as the Bosnian Serbs) to want independence from Austria-Hungary. The Black Hand, a terrorist group (inspired by the creation of a unified Italy and Germany) that wanted to create a Greater Serbia, began to gain membership in Bosnia and the surrounding areas.