The reform policy of Maria Theresa and Joseph II in the field of urban development in the Austrian monarchy and its influence on the cities of Galicia (second half of the 18th century)

Abstract

The article analyzes the reform policy of Maria Theresa and Joseph II in the field of urban development in the Austrian monarchy and determines its influence on the cities of Galicia (second half of the 18th century)). It is noted that the reformist policies of Maria Theresa and Joseph II limited the power of large owners in Galicia, created conditions for raising the material and educational level of the local population. Imperial measures to limit city self-government were correlated with a decrease in the competence of land sejms - landtags. The new government was looking for a model of successful administration for the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria. Therefore, it was decided that Galicia should not be governed according to the model of any old province, but should receive a new, more efficient administrative apparatus. Centralization reforms in Hungary and Bohemia encountered strong opposition from local political elites. Galicia was a new province and the reform strategy here had to be completely different. The goal was to dismantle all that was left of the Polish system of governance, and in its place to create a new, perfect administrative state apparatus. Anton Pergen, the first governor of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria, wrote about this in his memorandum to Empress Maria Theresa. The plan was approved by the empress. She liked the idea of turning Galicia into a “model province” (Musterprovinz) for other territories of the Habsburg monarchy.It was established that the Austrian authorities considered the cities as potential industrial centers of the country (following the Prussian or British model). Apart from Vienna, cities such as Budapest, Trieste, Fiume and Prague were more or less industrial and commercial centers. Industrial revolution on the border of the 18th and 19th centuries. belatedly, but still reflected in the structure and growth of individual cities of the empire. In order to contribute to the rise of cities, it was necessary to modernize and introduce new technologies. For this purpose, under both Maria Theresa and Joseph II, tax benefits were introduced for several years for entrepreneurs who installed machines in their factories. There were programs to attract skilled workers from Germany and Italy. Tax breaks and exemptions from the army were introduced for colonists, and rules were introduced for entrepreneurs that encouraged the use of modern technologies in factories and factories. On the other hand, penalties were applied to those who did not want to obey the changes. For example, high fines were imposed in Moravia in 1754 and in Bohemia in 1756 for the lack of modern technologies in paper production. Enterprises that used machines for the technological process of production were completely exempt from paying taxes for several years.