The Concert of Europe

 In November 1814, Kings, Princes and Ambassadors from all over Europe met to decide the fate of the continent  After 20 years of warfare and the awesome changes made by napoleon, Europe was left in a confused and disorganized state  Initially, the congress was a complete failure as each of the participants competed for power and territory  However, with the escape of Napoleon from Elba, everyone decided to work together  It was a great success and all the participants were able to agree on the major points  The Congress was led by Austrian Prince Klemens von Metternich

 Prince Metternich was, by all accounts, a “snake” and a womanizer.  However, he was exceptionally intelligent and understood that the congress should not be about “who got what.”  Rather, it should be about protecting Europe from future revolution  The congress was full of people who benefited from the “old order” – people who wanted to resist the change that the enlightenment demanded

 Liberalism: Most of the Enlightenment can fit into this theory. It means maximizing individual human rights. Governments must respect the natural rights of people.  Nationalism: A belief that people of similar race, culture, history or religion should be politically unified. It stressed pride in your own group, loyalty and conforming to national goals.  Both of these concepts were well developed in France during the French Revolution  Then, Napoleon’s conquests spread these ideas all over Europe

 Metternich realized that these ideas would eventually cause the downfall of European Monarchies  Liberalism challenges a kings right to rule. A king could no longer be all powerful.  Nationalism would break apart the Multinational Empires of Europe  Austria, Russia and Great Britain all contained multiple nationalities... Each of wish would want their own country

 The map was re-drawn after much discussion  However, the real result was the agreement of all the participants that Nationalism and Liberalism should be crushed  These ideas were to be made illegal, there was to be severe repression and restriction all over Europe  Finally, they formed alliances that agreed to invade any nation where a Liberal or Nationalist revolution was starting  Eg. The Holy Alliance (Austria, Prussia, Russia) and the Quadripul Alliance (Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain)  This is known as the “Concert of Europe”

 The congress system, in effect, was an attept to turn back the clock  To pretend the Enlightenment, French Revolution and Napoleon never happened  Question: do you think the congress system ever had a chance of success?

 The Congress system was successful at first  Austria created and enforced the “Carlbad Decrees” in the German confederation  These laws repressed nationalism and liberalism and made political ‘clubs” illegal  Mostly attacked university students  The King of Spain was saved from Revolution by the French Army  The Austrian Army crushed a revolution in Portugal

 It all starts with the Greek nationalist rebellion against the Ottoman Empire – the Europeans could not bring themselves to support Muslims against Christians  Also, national rivalries eventually get in the way.  By the late 19 th Century, several wars lead to the failure of the congress system (Crimean War, Italian and German Wars of Unification)  By the End of the 19 th century, the concert of Europe had been replaced by the Alliance system (Triple Alliance vs. Triple Entente)

 The Concert of Europe does prevent successful Nationalist and Liberal revolutions  In the end, these ideas were simply not powerful enough to overthrow the “old order”  Even after the congress system fails, there are no more successful revolutions like the ones in USA or France  However, these ideas do not go away and help contribute to major political changes that take place after the congress system has fallen apart

 Louis 18 th ruled France with a constitution and a parliament – his reign was quite successful  Louis the 18 th was replaced by his brother, Charles the 10 th  Charles wished to restore absolutism  The people rebelled again and Charles was overthrown  He was replaced by Louis Philippe, who re-established the constitution and parliament  Louis Philippe was ousted in 1848 and replaced by democracy  The French people elected Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (Napoleon’s Nephew)  He became France’s first president, but then made himself emperor  He led France during an age of prosperity and he broke the terms imposed on France at the congress of Vienna  He also undermined the congress system by supporting nationalist movements around Europe  He made France a world power again by conquering new colonies and pursuing aggressive foreign relations  He was attempting to extend the policies of his uncle (to be as great as his uncle)  Louis Napoleon was also politically liberal and gave rights to his people.  He was overthrown after a major French military defeat  France returned to democracy