congress of vienna

Critical Intro.

How would you summarize the

main reason for and goals of the

Congress of Vienna.

The Congress of Vienna

Conservative Response

What to do with lands previously

controlled by Napoleon?

Problem:

Hold peace meetings in Vienna to redraw

map of Europe: Congress of Vienna

Solution:

Von

Metternich

Key Decisions Made

• Restored France to 1789 borders

• Territory added to Russia, Prussia,

& Austria

• Creation of Netherlands

• Creation of German Confederation

Goals:

• Keep France in Check

•Achieve balance of power

•Initiate “Concert of Europe”

Von Metternich, 1815

“When France Sneezes…Europe

catches a cold”

• Peace was maintained for half century

Results

•French monarchy restored

•Forces Europeans into two competing

philosophies:

Conservatism v. Liberalism

•Contributes to nationalistic feelings

Liberalism

• Middle class

• Support nationalism

• Faith in science and technology

• Written constitutions = liberty

• Limit power of monarchies

Conservatism• Nobility

• Distrust nationalism

• Suspicious of science

• Status Quo

• Monarchy type rule with social hierarchy

• Reject equality for a birthright

Both

• Wealthy leaders

• Suspicious of lower classes

ability to govern

• Goal was to gain power

3rd Option?

Radicalism• Emphasized equality more than

liberty.

• Wider voting rights + gov’t

part.

• Social reforms to help poor

• Inspired Karl Marx = socialism

+ communism