1. The Congress of Vienna 7.5 SUMMARY:
After exiling Napoleon, European leaders at the Congress of Vienna try to restore order and reestablish peace.
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2. NAPOLEON’S EMPIRE COLLAPSES
NAPOLEON’S THREE MISTAKES
Continental System and blockade of Britain
Causes the Peninsular War by appointing his brother the king of Spain
BIGGEST DISASTER: tries to conquer Russia
Russians use scorched-earth policy
freezing winter and hunger decimate troops
NAPOLEON DEFEATED
1814: FOURTH COALITION defeats Napoleon
Napoleon abdicates; exiled to Elba
1815: escapes and returns to France: Hundred Days
declares himself emperor
defeated by British at Waterloo
exiled to St. Helena

3. Metternich Restores Stability
Congress of Vienna
series of meetings that reshape Europe
Klemens von Metternich—foreign minister of
Austria, most influential
METTERNICH’S GOALS
Distrusted democratic ideals of French Revolution:
1) Containment:
surround France with strong countries
2) Balance of power:
no one country a threat
3) Legitimacy:
restore royal families to throne

4. GOAL 1: Containment of France
Make countries surrounding France stronger:
Kingdom of the Netherlands formed
Switzerland made independent
Austria dominates new German Confederation of 39 German states
Kingdom of Sardinia is strengthened by adding Genoa
GOAL 2: Balance of Power
No country would be a threat to others
weaken France but leave it mostly intact
GOAL 3: Legitimacy
• Legitimacy: monarchs deposed by Napoleon are returned to thrones
hope to restore order

5. SUCCESS OF CONGRESS
succeeds in getting all European governments together
Work out fair deals so Congress does not lead to more war
All nations agree to preserve peace, which lasts almost 40 years

6. Political Changes Beyond Vienna
Conservative Europe
Conservative governments rule across Europe, but new ideas have impact
• Holy Alliance
Absolute monarchs of Russia, Prussia, Austria pledge to fight revolution
• Concert of Europe
nations pledge to help fight revolutions
Revolutions in Latin America
• Napoleon’s replacing king of Spain set off rebellions in Spanish America
• Many former colonies of Spain and Portugal gain independence
Long-Term Legacy
Britain, Prussia gain power
France losses power
spreading nationalism leads to revolutions
Germany, Greece, and Italy
Rise of democracy