Ch 23: Revolution & Counter Revolution Europe from 1815-1848

The Congress of Vienna: Success of congress- no major european war for 100 years-1914!

The leading statesmen at the conference included: Prince Klemens von Metternich of Austria Czar Alexander I of Russia Prince Karl von Hardenberg of Prussia Lord Castlereagh of Great Britain Lord Talleyrand of France

Prince Hardenberg Prince Metternich Viscount Castlereagh Czar Alexander Metternich: handsome, elegant and arrogant, the epitome of aristocracy was prime minister of Austria from 1809-1848 40 years)

Two themes of the conference: “Turn Back the Clock” “Destroy the Enlightenment”

Ideas they supported: Legitimacy Compensation Balance of power

Ideas they were against: Republicanism Liberalism Nationalism

In general, hereditary rulers who had been displaced by Napoleon The winners… France Russia Holland Prussia Austria England In general, hereditary rulers who had been displaced by Napoleon

The losers… Poland Finland Norway Belgium The Italian people The German people In general, liberals, republicans and nationalists

Notice: Italian states and the boundary for the Holy Roman Empire with both Austria and Prussia having land inside and outside the Empire.

39 German states- Prussia was the largest- better than before Napoleon-over 100 states

The Holy Alliance, proposed by Czar Alexander I Most of the European monarchs pledged to rule by Christian principles of charity, peace and justice… Despite these pledges, the hereditary rulers maintained repressive regimes.

The Quadruple Alliance, organized by Prince Metternich, For several years the Alliance enforced the Vienna settlements and suppressed revolutions… This cooperation was called the Concert of Europe. included Austria, Prussia, Russia and Britain. (In 1818, France became a member.)

Liberal, Republican Revolutions, 1820-1829 1820, Spain 1821, The Two Sicilies and Piedmont 1823, Latin America 1825, Russia 1821-1829, the Greeks 1820- Spanish liberals revolted against their reactionary king, Ferdinand VII and compelled him to approve a limited monarchy under a liberal constitution. Fearing the revolt would inspire other revolutions, the Concert of Europe empowered France to intervene. As a result, the revolt was put down by an invading army of 100,000 French troops. Revolutionary activity in Italy also frightened the Concert of Europe. Led by the Carbonari, the Italians revolted in the Two Sicilies and in Piedmont, hoping to replace reactionary kings with liberal, constitutional governments. Austrian armies and other Italian rulers jailed and executed liberal leaders, while thousands of others went into exile. Russian officers introduced to liberal reforms while fighting Napoleon organized secret societies to promote change. When Alexander I died, they moved against Nicholas I but little chance for success. The uprising was easily suppressed and anyone associated with the revolt were severely punished. Greeks were in revolt against their Turkish rulers. Although the Turkish Sultan was the legitimate ruler, the Concert of Europe sympathized with their Christian brothers against Turkish Muslims. Britain, France and Russia aided the revolutionaries. The Metternich system had been breached!

1830, a year of Revolution France Belgium Poland Italian lands German lands

The revolution in France … 1824, Charles X succeeded his brother Louis XVIII and tried to restore Old Regime conditions….

“Paris Barricades” July 27-29,1830 Charles X was driven from the throne and Louise-Philippe enacted a liberal constitution, reducing property qualifications for voting… French success ignited other European revolutions. “Paris Barricades” July 27-29,1830

“Liberty Leading the People,” 1830

In 1830, Louis-Philippe is enthroned as king… Louis-Philippe enacted a liberal constitution, reducing property qualifications for voting…but… French success ignited other European revolutions.

Belgium wins its independence from Holland, 1830-1832 The Congress of Vienna assigned Catholic Belgium to Protestant Holland. The Belgians were not happy. Belgian nationalists revolted and proclaimed independence.

Poland, 1831 The Cadet Revolution led by Piotr Wysocki

The Revolutions of 1830… The revolutions failed in Italy and Poland- revolutionary leaders failed to stir the large peasant populations to the cause of independence and liberalism. The November Uprising (1830–1831)—also known as the Cadet Revolution—was an armed rebellion against Russia's rule in Poland. It was started on November 29, 1830 in Warsaw by a group of young conspirators from the army's officer school in Warsaw and was soon joined by large part of the Polish society. Despite several local successes, the uprising was eventually defeated by a numerically superior Russian army and their resistance was crushed. The spark that ignited Warsaw was a Russian plan of using the Polish Army to suppress the July Revolution in France and the Belgian Revolution. The armed struggle started when a group of conspirators led by a young cadet from the Warsaw officers' school, Piotr Wysocki, took the arms from their garrison on November 29, 1830, and attacked the Belweder Palace, the main seat of the Grand Duke. The rebels managed to enter the residence, but Grand Duke Konstantin managed to escape in woman dress and notified the nearby unit of Cossack cavalry. Polish students and intellectuals joined the cadets and vowed to restore Polish independence but their courage was no match for the Russian army. The uprising was cruelly suppressed by the Czarist army. In a series of uprisings, Italian democrats again revolted against their absolute monarchs. The rebels were ruthlessly suppressed by Austrian troops under Metternich’s orders. As in Poland, the Italian rebels failed to stir the great peasant masses to the cause of independence and unity.

1848 The Year of Revolution

1848, the year of revolution… Economic crises led to food riots Financial crises led to reduced wages, unemployment “The absence of liberty…”-censorship, corruption and voting restrictions. Uprisings for political liberty and nationhood took place throughout Europe. Major uprising occurred in France, Austria, Italian and German lands.

France: the June Revolution-

The Second French Empire- Revolutionists led rioting mobs through Paris and Louis- Philippe fled the city. The Republic was proclaimed and universal male suffrage was granted. Napoleon’s nephew, Louis Napoleon was elected president.

In the face of revolutionary movements throughout Europe in 1848, Metternich, Austrian minister of foreign affairs, was forced to retire, as shown in this cartoon. Metternich had tried to protect the Austrian empire, and to support conservative governments in Europe, in the face of popular unrest from liberals and democrats. The revolution of 1848 forced him to flee to the UK; he returned 1851 as a power behind the scenes.

The Revolutions of 1848 failed… Inexperienced leadership Lack of unity and clear goals Failure of middle class liberals and workers to agree on reforms Conservative governments were strong enough to prevail Nationalism was divisive

Although mainly unsuccessful, 1848 was a pivotal year… the downfall of Metternich in Austria and the Metternich system in Europe… A republic & universal suffrage in France… A liberal constitution in Piedmont The end to serfdom in Austria A “no-so liberal” constitution in Prussia The recognition that peaceful political and economic pressure had to replace violence and revolution. Though the Revolutions of 1848 had few short-term effects, if any, they did have some long-term effects. The new governments set up as a result of the revolutions could easily be dismantled, but the forces of change could not be destroyed. Again and again throughout the course of history there would be uprisings and demands for independence and an end to old empires. Also, the short-lived governments of 1848 were precursors to many more modern forms of government, such as liberalism and socialism, which are still around today. In addition, Louis Napoleon's election changed the rules of politics, proving that an absolute ruler could come to power through the ballot box.

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