After reflecting on Austria's foreign policy from beginning to end, Franz decisively resolved to focus on farming in peace for the days ahead.
Austria had been far too much in the spotlight lately. In just a few moves, it had knocked the Kingdom of Sardinia flat, extorted a sum in war reparations, then intervened in the Papal States and consolidated its hegemony over Italy.
Now it had created the Holy Roman Alliance. Everyone knew this alliance was not as simple as it appeared on the surface; one only had to look at the reaction in Germany to know that.
Holy Roman Alliance and Holy Roman Empire differed by only two words. It was all too easy for people to draw connections.
Had it not drawn the Italian states into the fold and placed its headquarters in Rome, many people probably would not have been able to sleep.
Even so, in the eyes of many German nationalists, this was the prelude to Austria's attempt to unify Germany.
The seed had already been planted. All that remained was to wait for it to take root and sprout. As for reaping the harvest, that could wait until their strength was sufficient.
On June 1, 1849, Austria's compulsory education officially began. All children between the ages of six and thirteen could enroll at any compulsory education school.
Austria's compulsory education copied some of Prussia's successful experience. The core purpose of both sides was the same, so their methods of administration could naturally be borrowed.
Prussia's guiding principle was: "Through schools strictly controlled by the government, resist the spread of revolutionary ideas and train citizens who are loyal and brave in battle."
Austria's purpose was much the same, merely phrased differently. Its educational principle likewise centered on "loyalty to the sovereign and love for the