1. The Congress of Vienna
Ch. 23.5

2. The Congress of Vienna
Their goal was to establish security and stability for the entire European continent.
It was originally scheduled for 4 weeks, but it lasted 8 months.

3. The 5 Great Powers Prussia Russia Austria Britain France
King Frederick William III
Russia
Czar Alexander I
Austria
Emperor Francis I
Britain
Foreign minister
France

4. Prince Klemens von Metternich
Most influential person of Congress of Vienna.
Foreign minister of Austria.
“The first and greatest concern for the immense majority of every nation is the stability of laws – never their change.”

5. Metternich’s goals
1) Wanted to prevent future French aggression by surrounding France with strong countries.
2) Restore a balance of power so that no country would be a threat to others.
3) Wanted to restore Europe’s royal families to their thrones.

6. The Containment of France
Austrian Netherlands and Dutch Republic joined to form the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
39 German states joined together as the German Confederation.
Switzerland was recognized as an independent country.
The Kingdom of Sardinia was strengthened by adding the city of Genoa in Italy.
These changes prevented France from overpowering weaker nations.

7. Balance of Power
The leaders did not want to weaken France totally in case if France wanted revenge.
The French were required to give up all territories Napoleon had taken.
France remained with roughly the same boundaries as it had before.
France also kept some of its overseas possessions, army, and government.
As a result, France’s power was lessened, but it was still a major power in Europe.

8. The Congress of Vienna believed that the return of the former monarchs would stabilize political relations among nations.
Royal Families return
In France, Louie XVI’s brother took the throne and became Louis XVIII.
Adopted a constitution and ruled as a constitutional monarchy
Bourbon rulers regained the Spanish throne.
Hapsburg princes came to rule kingdoms in Northern Italy.

9. The Congress of Vienna created a time of peace in Europe.
Political Triumph
For the first time, the nations of an entire continent cooperated to control political affairs.
The document was signed on June 13, 1815.
None of the 5 great powers waged war on each other until 1853, in the Crimean War.

10. Britain and France were both now constitutional monarchies.
Russia, Prussia, and Austria still ruled as absolute monarchs.

11. Alliances Form Holy Alliance (Russia, Prussia, and Austria)
Concert of Europe (series of alliances devised by Metternich that assured nations would help each other if revolutions broke out.)

12. In France
The Conservatives were happy with the restored monarchy of Louis XVIII.
Liberals wanted the king to share more power with the Chamber of Deputies and to grant the middle class the right to vote.
Many people in the lower class remained committed to the ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity even though women and many poor men could not vote.

13. Explosive ideas
In other countries, there was an explosive mixture of ideas.
Groups would start to form that would contribute to revolutions in 1830 and 1848.
Despite their efforts to undo the French Revolution, Europe had been given its first taste of democracy.
Even though the democracy failed, this set new political ideas in motion.

14. Legacy
The Congress of Vienna left a legacy that would influence politics for the next 100 years.
France’s power decreased.
Britain's and Prussia’s powers increased.

15. Nationalism Nationalism began to grow in Italy, Germany, and Greece.
Eventually, these nationalistic feelings would explode into revolutions and new nations would be formed.

16. The Dawn of a New Era
More and more principles of democracy were seen as the best way for equity and justice to prevail for all people.
Europeans challenged the old economic patterns of taxation and property ownership and began to adopt more equal treatment for all.