Congress of Vienna

Mr. Daniel Lazar

Europe in 1812Europe in 1812

The Congress of Vienna(September 1, 1814 – June 9, 1815)The Congress of Vienna(September 1, 1814 – June 9, 1815)

Main ObjectivesMain Objectives• Create new, more sustainable balance of power

• Reduce France to 1790 boundaries

• Promote conservatism

• Restore old, “legitimate” monarchies

• Prevent revolutions: Liberal, National, Democratic

• Undermine French Rev & Napoleonic Code

• Compensation

• France would have to pay an indemnity of 700,000,000 francs.

• Punishment

• Coalition forces would occupy France for 3-5 years.

• Peace, security and dialogue

• Communication: “Concert of Europe”

• Create new, more sustainable balance of power

• Reduce France to 1790 boundaries

• Promote conservatism

• Restore old, “legitimate” monarchies

• Prevent revolutions: Liberal, National, Democratic

• Undermine French Rev & Napoleonic Code

• Compensation

• France would have to pay an indemnity of 700,000,000 francs.

• Punishment

• Coalition forces would occupy France for 3-5 years.

• Peace, security and dialogue

• Communication: “Concert of Europe”

Key Players at Vienna

Key Players at Vienna

The “Host”Prince Klemens von

Metternich (Aus.)

Foreign Minister, Viscount Castlereagh (Br.)

Tsar Alexander I (Rus.)

King Frederick William III (Prus.)

Foreign Minister, Charles Maurice de Tallyrand (Fr.)

• France was deprived of all territory conquered by Napoleon

• Russia was given most of Duchy of Warsaw• Prussia was given half of Saxony, parts of Poland,

and other German territories. • A Germanic Confederation of 30+ states created

from the previous 300, under Austrian rule. • Austria was given back territory it had lost recently,

plus more in Germany and Italy. • The House of Orange was given the Dutch

Republic and the Austrian Netherlands to rule.

Changes Made at Vienna (1)Changes Made at Vienna (1)

The Germanic Confederation, 1815

The Germanic Confederation, 1815

Changes Made at Vienna (2)Changes Made at Vienna (2)

• Norway and Sweden were joined• Neutrality of Switzerland guaranteed• Hanover enlarged and made a kingdom.• Britain was given Cape Colony, South Africa, and

various other colonies in Africa and Asia.• Sardinia given Piedmont, Nice, Savoy, and Genoa.• Bourbon Ferdinand I restored in the Two Sicilies• Duchy of Parma was given to Marie Louise.• Slave trade condemned (at British urging)• Freedom of navigation guaranteed for many rivers

(trade)

Europe After the Congress of Vienna

Europe After the Congress of Vienna

Before / After the Congress of Vienna

Analysis

• “Gentlemen's Agreement" - verbal, no constitution• Conservative if not Reactionary

– Common goal: prevent another revolution – Liberties and rights of American and French

Revolutions de-emphasized– “The Burkean Rev” - Edmund Burke: Chief job of the

state is to guarantee the passage of property from one generation to another. Political changes must be gradual so as not to disrupt the passage of property from one generation to another. Ev / Rev

– Big 4 as Policemen against Rev

British caricaturist and social critic George Cruikshank drew this nightmarish image of "Social Reform" menacing the rich and powerful in 1819 to satirize conservative fears of

change."I'm coming! I'm coming! I shall have you!" the monster cries. "And though I'm at your

heels now, I'll be at your heads presently."

Analysis

• The two great 19th Century European Movements - liberalism and nationalism - halted, temporarily.  – Not crushed : Italy under Garibaldi and Cavour,

Prussia under Bismarck• Britain appeared to acquire minimal advantages in the

settlement, given that she had spent £600 million on the wars.  She got no land in Europe, but did gain colonial strength which helped her trade and commerce. Britain became THE European colonial power

• Austria won undue influence

Analysis

• Communication– 1815 Congress of Vienna– 1818 Congress of Aix-la-Chapelle– 1820 Congress of Troppau– 1821 Congress of Laibach– 1822 Congress of Verona…– League of Nations → UN

• Prevented widespread European war for nearly 100 years (1815–1914)