consolidation of the government. He initiated tax reforms saving the state from bankruptcy. In 1889, Sándor Wekerle became Minister of Finance. He collaborated with Tisza to develop a new tax system which focused on taxing the land. The success of these reforms were tremendous, even though the land tax increased by 30%, the revenues of the government increased by 330% (Janos 108). Between 1880 and 1895, public revenue doubled due to the successful tax reforms. Though the Tisza-Wekerle system saved the government from bankruptcy, the tax system proved to be too harsh and eventually prevented the rise of a domestic market for the products produced by Hungary. Legacy The contributions made by Kálmán Tisza during his 15-year premiership were quite tremendous. Although he was born during the midst of a failing Austrian Imperial government in Hungary and he had inherited a failing Hungarian Constitutional government, he managed to turn Hungary into a modern state. He saved his country from going completely bankrupt and consolidated and created an efficient centralized government. His legacy of reform and success gave confidence to a people that were once suppressed by the Austrians and were struggling to master constitutional government. However, he has also been associated with the policy of Magyarization and the imposition of Magyar hegemony over the various linguistic and ethnic groups in Hungary, as well as consolidating the influence of the Magyar country gentry on political life. His son István Tisza also became a notable Hungarian politician. Orders and decorations Austria-Hungary: Grand Cross of the Royal Hungarian Order of Saint Stephen, 1880 Ancestors References Bibliography Andrew C. Janos, The Politics of Backwardness in Hungary 1825–1945, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1982. External links 1830 births 1902 deaths People from Oradea Hungarian Calvinist and Reformed Christians Kalman Tisza Hungarian nobility Resolution Party politicians Left Centre politicians Liberal Party (Hungary) politicians Prime Ministers of Hungary Hungarian Interior Ministers Foreign ministers of Hungary Finance ministers of Hungary Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint Stephen of Hungary