Final answer:
In 1848, Austrian Emperor Ferdinand I abdicated in favor of his nephew Franz Josef due to revolutionary uprisings and nationalist movements in the Austrian Empire.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1848, Austrian Emperor Ferdinand I abdicated in favor of his nephew Franz Josef due to the revolutionary uprisings and nationalist movements that were occurring in the Austrian Empire at the time.
The revolutions of 1848 were a series of widespread uprisings against conservative governments in Europe, demanding political and social reforms. In Austria, these revolutions led to the abolishment of serfdom, greater autonomy for certain regions, and the abdication of Emperor Ferdinand I.
However, a conservative backlash and intervention by the Austrian military and Russian forces ultimately suppressed the revolutions and restored Habsburg rule across the empire by 1849.