The Congress SystemThe Concert of Europe

In November 1814, Kings, Princes and Ambassadors from all over Europe met to decide the fate of the continent

After 20 years of warfare and the awesome changes made by napoleon, Europe was left in a confused and disorganized state

Initially, the congress was a complete failure as each of the participants competed for power and territory

However, with the escape of Napoleon from Elba, everyone decided to work together

It was a great success and all the participants were able to agree on the major points

The Congress was led by Austrian Prince Klemens von Metternich

The Congress of Vienna

Prince Metternich was, by all accounts, a “snake” and a womanizer.

However, he was exceptionally intelligent and understood that the congress should not be about “who got what.”

Rather, it should be about protecting Europe from future revolution

The congress was full of people who benefited from the “old order” – people who wanted to resist the change that the enlightenment demanded

Metternich and Austrians Aims

Liberalism: Most of the Enlightenment can fit into this theory. It means maximizing individual human rights. Governments must respect the natural rights of people.

Nationalism: A belief that people of similar race, culture, history or religion should be politically unified. It stressed pride in your own group, loyalty and conforming to national goals.

Both of these concepts were well developed in France during the French Revolution

Then, Napoleon’s conquests spread these ideas all over Europe

The Legacy of the French Revolution: Liberalism and Nationalism

Metternich realized that these ideas would eventually cause the downfall of European Monarchies

Liberalism challenges a kings right to rule. A king could no longer be all powerful.

Nationalism would break apart the Multinational Empires of Europe

Austria, Russia and Great Britain all contained multiple nationalities . . . Each of wish would want their own country

Why were these ideas dangerous?

The map was re-drawn after much discussion However, the real result was the agreement of all the

participants that Nationalism and Liberalism should be crushed

These ideas were to be made illegal, there was to be severe repression and restriction all over Europe

Finally, they formed alliances that agreed to invade any nation where a Liberal or Nationalist revolution was starting

Eg. The Holy Alliance (Austria, Prussia, Russia) and the Quadripul Alliance (Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain)

This is known as the “Concert of Europe”

The Final Result of the Conference

The congress system, in effect, was an attept to turn back the clock

To pretend the Enlightenment, French Revolution and Napoleon never happened

Question: do you think the congress system ever had a chance of success?

The Ultimate goal!

The Congress system was successful at first Austria created and enforced the “Carlbad

Decrees” in the German confederation These laws repressed nationalism and

liberalism and made political ‘clubs” illegal Mostly attacked university students The King of Spain was saved from

Revolution by the French Army The Austrian Army crushed a revolution in

Portugal

The History of the Congress System

It all starts with the Greek nationalist rebellion against the Ottoman Empire – the Europeans could not bring themselves to support Muslims against Christians

Also, national rivalries eventually get in the way. By the late 19th Century, several wars lead to the

failure of the congress system (Crimean War, Italian and German Wars of Unification)

By the End of the 19th century, the concert of Europe had been replaced by the Alliance system (Triple Alliance vs. Triple Entente)

The Congress System falls apart

The Concert of Europe does prevent successful Nationalist and Liberal revolutions

In the end, these ideas were simply not powerful enough to overthrow the “old order”

Even after the congress system fails, there are no more successful revolutions like the ones in USA or France

However, these ideas do not go away and help contribute to major political changes that take place after the congress system has fallen apart

The Lesson of the Day

Louis 18th ruled France with a constitution and a parliament – his reign was quite successful

Louis the 18th was replaced by his brother, Charles the 10th

Charles wished to restore absolutism The people rebelled again and Charles was overthrown He was replaced by Louis Philippe, who re-established the

constitution and parliament Louis Philippe was ousted in 1848 and replaced by democracy The French people elected Louis Napoleon Bonaparte

(Napoleon’s Nephew) He became France’s first president, but then made himself

emperor He led France during an age of prosperity and he broke the

terms imposed on France at the congress of Vienna He also undermined the congress system by supporting

nationalist movements around Europe He made France a world power again by conquering new

colonies and pursuing aggressive foreign relations He was attempting to extend the policies of his uncle (to be as

great as his uncle) Louis Napoleon was also politically liberal and gave rights to his

people. He was overthrown after a major French military defeat France returned to democracy

France in the 19th century