1. The Conservative Order (1815-1830)
European History

2. The Congress of Vienna The Congress System Holy Alliance
How to stop the spread of revolutionary ideas in 1815? – Try to reinstate as much of the Ancien Regime as possible.
The Congress of Vienna
The Congress System
Holy Alliance

3. Congress of Vienna,
Peace settlement process lead by Clemens von Metternich, Austrian foreign minister and later prime minister
Main participants
Quadruple Alliance = Great Britain, Austria, Prussia and Russia (the most powerful victors decide what is to become of Europe)
France, Bourbon monarchy restored w/ Louis XVIII and France is allowed to participate in the peace talks

4. Major Players Austria – Clemens von Metternich (Prime Minister)
Restore absolutism
Limit Russia influence
Great Britain – Castlereagh (Foreign Minister)
Balance of power on continent; NO one dominant power
Russia – Tsar Alexander I
Extend Russian influence into Europe through Poland
Prussia – Frederick William III
Limit Russian influence
Increase Prussian territory (Saxony)
France – Talleyrand
Ensure a strong France
Limits the type of “punishments” for France

5. Congress of Vienna, 1814-1815 Outcomes:
Russian Expansion - Congress Poland (autonomous to Russia)
France avoids punishment BUT
must return any land that was not French before 1795
must pay an indemnity to Europe
In France, Louis XVIII restored to throne, but there is a constitution and he must share power with a legislative body
Prussia gained territory west of the Rhine River BUT only received a portion of Saxony

6. Congress of Vienna, 1814-1815 Outcomes:
German states’ rulers are restored, BUT only 39 States
Netherlands regained independence, made a KINGDOM, AND acquired Austrian Netherlands (Belgium)
Spanish Bourbons restored to the throne
At first LIBERAL but then ABSOLUTE (conservative)
Papal states restored – Pope is again a temporal, as well as spiritual ruler.

8. The Congress System 1815-1823 A.K.A. the Concert of Europe
established by Metternich
Made up of the Great Powers: Prussia, Austria, Russia, and Great Britain (later France)
The Great Powers planned to meet together frequently for regular congresses to root out any potential revolutions, even if this meant interfering in other states/nations.
Interfering was considered less threatening than revolution
SIG: Maintaining international peace and stability becomes the greatest goal of European diplomats. - No general war for almost 100 years!

9. Holy Alliance The “Guiding Principal” of the Congress System
Suggested by Alexander I of Russia
Influence by Christian mysticism
Reluctantly accepted by other countries EXCEPT England

10. The REAL Guiding Principal
Metternich wants
to ensure that Russia cannot get too powerful
to expand Austrian influence
to ensure that a multinational country, like Austria, where nationalism was a threat, that any revolutionary ideals can be squashed

11. Balance of Power
Definition: distribution of power among several states such that no single nation can dominate or interfere with the interests of another.
Why were the members of the Quadruple Alliance so concerned with the balance of power at this time?
What kind of threat did France still pose and how did the Quadruple Alliance choose to deal with this threat? Explain on map…

13. System Failure Principle of Intervention
Continental European states want to stop liberal / nationalistic revolutions at ALL COSTS
Will invade other countries to support “legitimate” absolute monarchs
GB does not always agree with intervention – they prefer isolationism over being involved with continental politics
As a result the Concert of Europe begins to break down