Why did nationalist groups in budapestprauge and Vienna demand independence and self government?

Nationalist groups in Budapest, Prague, and Vienna demanded independence and self-government primarily due to rising ethnic identities and desires for autonomy from the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They sought to preserve their cultural heritage, language, and political rights, which they felt were suppressed under imperial rule. Economic disparities and frustrations over central governance further fueled these demands, as local populations desired greater control over their affairs. This push for self-determination was part of a broader trend across Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.