1. The Congress of Vienna

2. Objectives
Describe the political climate of Europe after Napoleon’s rule
Understand how Metternich reestablished peace in Europe and created an era of no country-to-country war among the great powers
Analyze the long term impact of the Congress of Vienna

3. Setting the Stage
European heads of gov’t were seeking peace and long lasting stability
Goal of a new European order:
Collective security and stability for the entire continent
Meetings in Vienna, Austria to discuss how to achieve this goal
Known as the Congress of Vienna
Lasted 8 months

5. Metternich’s Plan for Europe
Most of the decisions made were done in secret among the 5 “great powers”
Russia, Prussia, Austria, Great Britain, and France
Most influential leader was Klemens won Metternich, Prince of Austria

6. Metternich’s Plan for Europe
Metternich distrusted the democratic ideals of the French Rev.
Argued that Napoleon’s actions were expected after an experiment with democracy
Said the stability of laws were most important never their change
Metternich’s 3 the Congress of Vienna
Surround France w/ strong countries to prevent future French aggression
Restore a balance of power ∴ no country would be a threat to the others
Restore Europe’s royal families to their thrones

7. The Containment of France
In order to make the weaker countries around France stronger the Congress:
United the former Austrian Netherlands + Dutch Republic to form the Kingdom of the Netherlands
39 German states were loosely joined to create the German Confederation dominated by Austria
Switzerland recognized as an independent nation
Kingdom of Sardinia in Italy made stronger by the addition of Genoa

9. Balance of Power
Although the leaders of Europe wanted to severely weaken France…
If they punished France too much they might want to take revenge
If they broke it up, another country might become so strong + threaten everyone
So they did not want to leave France powerless ∴ they did not do much to punish France
France remained a major power  but were weakened, still, overall
No European nation could easily overpower another

10. Legitimacy
The great power affirmed the concept of legitimacy  Restore to power the rulers that Napoleon took from their thrones
Legitimacy: Hereditary right to monarchic rule
Ruling families in France, Spain, and several states in Italy and Central Europe regained thrones
Congress of Vienna believed that the return of the former monarchs would stabilize relations b/w nations

11. Success of the Congress of Vienna
For the first time, nations of an entire continent worked together to control political affairs
No country was left holding a grudge ∴ no nation would feel so undermined to be vulnerable to start a war
Much more successful than other peace treaties
Maintained peace for over 40 years among the great powers
Agreed to come to each other’s aid in a case of a threat to peace

13. Political Changes Beyond Vienna
Congress of Vienna was a victory for conservatives  restoration of monarchic rule
Some important differences though:
Britain and France had constitutional monarchies
Gov’ts in Eastern + Central Europe were more conservative w/ absolute monarchies
Russia, Prussia, Austria

14. Conservative Europe
Rulers of Europe still very nervous about the legacy of the French Rev.
Worried about the ideas of liberty, equality and fraternity  didn’t want them to spread
The Holy Alliance (1815): Czar Alexander I (Russia), Emperor Francis I (Austria), + King Frederick William III (Prussia) signed an agreement aka the Holy Alliance.
Pledged to base relations w/other countries on Christian principles to combat the forces of a revolution
Concert of Europe: set of alliances that ensured nations would help one another if revolutions broke out

15. Revolutionary Ideals Still Spread
Although gov’ts became more conservative, ideals of liberty and democracy still spread
For example: France still deeply divided:
Conservatives happy w/ reestablished monarchy
Liberals wanted the king to share more power w/ the legislature
This division was also apparent in many other countries and led directly to other revolutions later in the century

16. Long-Term Legacy of the Congress of Vienna
Balance of power that lasted for 100 years
Diminished the size of France and the power of Britain and Prussia increased
Nationalism began to spread in Italy, Germany, Greece,
These would eventually turn into revolutions inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution
Democracy now a goal for many citizens under monarchic control