The revvolution of 1848 and the april laws

Rejected the nobiliary county system of feudal origin; advocated constitutional centralization.

Strong, central government responsible to parliament.

Established in 1847 by Kossuth, Deák, and Batthyány; aimed to create a nation-wide political organization.

Included abolition of serfdom, entailment, general taxation, equality before the law, freedom of religion/speech/press, representative parliament, and union of Hungary and Transylvania.

Took place on March 13, 1848.

Occurred on March 15, 1848; included the 12 points and delegation to Vienna led by Kossuth.

Political group of lesser nobility (Petőfi, Jókai, Irinyi, Vasvári); promoted nationalism and liberalism.

Aristocratic political group (e.g., József Dessewffy); supported gradual reforms and privileges for serfs and Hungarian language.

Students mobilized here to start the revolution.

Revolutionaries printed the "12 Points" and Petőfi's "National Song" without censorship approval.

Petőfi recited "Nemzeti Dal" to the crowd.

Hungary’s only political prisoner was released during the revolution.

First legal document of the revolution advocating freedom of press, responsible government, equality before law, abolition of serfdom/manorial duties, national army, taxation, etc.

Count Lajos Batthyány became prime minister on March 18, 1848; formed Hungary’s first independent responsible government.

Included Batthyány (PM), Kossuth (finance), Deák (justice), Mészáros (military), Eötvös (culture/education), Szemere (internal affairs), Klauzál (agriculture/trade), Esterházy (Habsburg liaison), Széchényi (transportation).

Sanctioned by Ferdinand V on April 11, 1848; created a modern parliamentary democracy in Hungary.

Guaranteed liberal rights, abolished feudal laws/restrictions, liberated serfs with land ownership rights, abolished entailment/tax privileges, ensured freedom of press/religion.

Proclaimed under the April Laws.

Did not address land reform for serfs without land, ethnic groups’ rights, or Austria-Hungary legal relationship.

Austrian court demanded disbanding of Hungarian banks/currency/army; led to government resignation.

Croatian Ban Jelacic attacked Hungary on September 11, 1848; War of Independence began.

Hungarian forces successfully resisted Jelacic’s army in October 1848.

Hungarians suffered defeat against Windish-Gratz and Jelacic’s united armies on October 30, 1848.

Included victories like Barinyszkó but ended with defeat at Kápolna in February 1849; Görgei reappointed as commander.

Honvéd army liberated Hungary by May 1849; parliament declared Habsburg dethronement and independence on April 14, 1849.

April Laws failed to resolve minority rights; ethnic groups like Croats, Serbs, Romanians sought autonomy or opposed union with Hungary/Transylvania.

Hungary was not acknowledged as independent by European powers; Russia intervened with a large army in June 1849 fearing revolutionary spread to Poland.

Poorly organized Hungarian forces suffered defeat on August 9, 1849; Batthyány imprisoned afterward.

Görgey surrendered unconditionally to Russian forces on August 13, 1849; marked end of War of Independence.

Lajos Batthyány executed in Pest; 13 generals executed in Arad on October 6, 1849; became martyrs for Hungarian independence.