Czech Republic History in the Period of National Revival
The 19th century is considered to be a period of national revival across Central Europe, including Czech and Slovak Nations. Since the Bohemian nobility were in large extent German or German speaking, the first generation intelligentsia of peasant origin, supported by only a few nobles, led the Czech national revival. In additional, the 19th century is also characterized by the Industrial Revolution, including the building of factories and urbanization.
In 1791, a faculty of Czech language (considered to be a peasant language) and literature was established at Charles University. At the same time, leaders of the Czech national revival, such as Josef Dobrovský and Josef Jungmann, operated to introduce the study of Czech language in state schools. Their efforts were accompanied by growth of Czech original literature. Other prominent leader of Czech revival was František Palacký, Moravian Protestant of Hussite tradition and famous Czech Historian.
In 1818, the Museum of the Bohemian Kingdom was established – an event that symbolized an institutional support of the national revival. This museum has made important contribution to Czech culture future development. In 1827, the museum began the publication of Czech cultural and political journal. In 1830, the museum became the patron of the Matice Ceska, an organization dealing with promotion Czech literature and education.
In 1834-1839 the first Czech-German Dictionary was published and written by Josef Jungmann.
In 1836, Ferdinand V of Habsburg was coroneted as a King of Bohemia. His appointment was a consequence of an attempt of Metternich, an Austrian prince and Foreign Minister, to preserve the throne’s legitimacy. Ferdinand V suffered from epilepsy and retardness, and therefore was incapable of ruling. In 1845 a railway between Vienna and Prague had been opened.
1848 was a year of revolutionary changes in emerging Czech Republic. Vienna and Budapest rebelled against Metternich, who escaped the country. Ferdinand V was forced to abdicate, and had spent the rest of his life in Prague’s Castle. His nephew Franz Joseph was coroneted in Austria, but denied of Bohemian throne. A national German – Czech committee was formed in Bohemia, although the Czech representatives withdrew from the committee very soon as a consequence of national conflict. František Palacký promoted the Slavic unity and proposed the preservation of the Austrian Empire as a national home of various Slavic nations. However, Austria had operated to suppress all the national movements – most of them clamoring for autonomy - within her borders.
The revolution also brought equal rights for the Jews, and the ghetto was finally cancelled. The Jews were allowed to live anywhere in Prague. Unfortunately, the Jewish emancipation caused a number of violent anti-Jew protests by the Czechs.
In the 1860s conditions for the unification of Germany had been developed, while both Austria and Prussia had their own demands on German sovereignty. In 1866 The Austro-Prussian War broke out. The main battle of the war took place in Bohemia. The Prussian army entered Saxony and Bohemia, where the Austrian army was concentrating for an invasion to Silesia. The two armies met on July 3 at the decisive Battle of Königgrätz in Sadová. Despite its numerical superiority, the Austrian army was defeated by the Pryssians.
In 1862, The Sokol (Falcon) movement – a Czech youth and gymnastics movement was founded in Prague. As part of the peace agreement, Austria joined the Treaty of Prague on 23.8.1866, preventing it from interfering German affairs.
In 1867, the Habsburgs signed the Ausgleich (”compromise”) agreement, which established Austro-Hungarian constitutional monarchy. The Dual Monarchy granted Hungarians, in addition to Habsburgs, the right to intervene in Bohemian internal affairs. The Majority of Czechs opposed and objected this agreement. In 1868 Národní Divadlo (the National Theatre) was founded in Prague. The idea of establishing an independent Czech theatre was promoted for about two decades by Czech national revival activists leaded by František Palacký. Nowadays, the National Theatre is one of the most important cultural institutions in Czech Republic.
In 1871, Franz Joseph, whose policy had been opposed by the Austrian Liberals, made an efforts to arrange a coalition with the Czechs. In September, Francis Joseph issued his “Fundamental Articles”, which included an Autonomy of Bohemia and Moravia and an equal language status for Czechs and Germans, including the bilingual civil service. However, due to resistance of German - Austrian Liberals, Magyars and German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, Francis Joseph was forced to renege on the charter. Consequently, the Czechs boycotted the Vienna Parliament for several years.
In 1874, Česká spořitelna (The Czech Savings Bank) bought the “Na Rejdišti” – a site used for commercial purposes – and decided to turn it into a concert hall and exhibition halls. As a result of this decision, the Rudolfinum , was opened at the Palach square, one of the most important neo-renaissance buildings in Prague.
In 1896, the Jewish ghetto in Prague was finally destroyed because of its dejected condition.
