OUTCOMES OF THE CONGRESS OF VIENNA UP TO THE REVOLUTIONS OF 1848
Russia
Country
Role at the Congress of Vienna
Conservative monarchy – Czar Alexander I
Strongest monarch at the conference
Russia seen as a new power, had chased Napoleon’s troops all the
way to France
Wants to restore the crowned heads of Europe
Wants a large country of Poland established under Russian control
Gets a small country of Poland under Russian control
Role after the Congress of Vienna until the Revolutions of 1848
Part of the Holy Alliance to repress liberalism
Believed the Holy Alliance could actively intervene to maintain
autocratic regimes
However: Russia helped Greece gain independence (to weaken the
Turks) 1827
UK of the
Netherlands
Prussia
Took Finland from Sweden
Took Bessarabia, Georgia and Azerbaijan from the Ottoman
Empire
Represented by Hardenberg
Conservative monarchy – happy to exist, Frederick William III
wouldn’t mind leading a united Germany
Wants a bigger Prussia, especially the mining and manufacturing
areas of Saxony
Got more land along the Rhine – (including the Ruhr Valley
which was disappointing in 1815, but ended up to be very
valuable for Industry) Metternich wanted Prussia to be right next
to France so if France got aggressive Prussia would step in to
fight, instead of staying out as it did during part of the Napoleonic
Wars
Gets some (not all) of Saxony
Part of the Holy Alliance to repress liberalism
Belgium (Austrian Netherlands) and Holland (Dutch Republic)
united to form the United Kingdom of the Netherlands a buffer
state to contain French aggression.
Catholic Belgium and Protestant Holland broke off from each
other. Belgium had a liberal constitutional monarchy by 1831.
(Holland would gain a liberal constitutional monarchy in 1848.)
Seen as the second leader of the German Confederation, after
Austria
Country
Role at the Congress of Vienna
Austria
Conservative monarchy represented by Metternich
As the host of the conference, he was the dominant politician
Gave up Belgium & some S. Germany, got Venetia & Lombardy,
former Polish possessions (South Poland) and new lands on E.
coast of Adriatic
Role after the Congress of Vienna until the Revolutions of 1848
Leader of the German Confederation
Part of the Holy Alliance to suppress liberalism
Believed the Holy Alliance could actively intervene to maintain
autocratic regimes (Naples 1821)
Very interested in maintaining a balance of power – wants to
make sure Russia and Prussia aren’t too strong
Italies
Spain
German Confederation
Holy Roman Empire, which Napoleon did away with, is gone
Replaced by a very loose confederation of 38 states dominated by
Austria (which held the permanent presidency) then Prussia
Enforced the Carlsbad Decrees – root out subversive ideas in
universities and newspapers and set up a spy network (like the
FBI). Got rid of fraternities and festivals – they were considered
places where liberals could congregate
Many former “princelings” not recognized
Bourbon king restored
Revolts forced the king to adopt a liberalized constitution in 1820,
French armies marched in to restore the Bourbon regime
Bourbon-Two Sicilies king restored (a junior branch of the
Bourbon dynasty)
Revolts forced the king to liberalize the constitution in 1820,
Austrian armies marched in to restore the Bourbon-Two Sicilies
regime
Ruler of Sardinia-Piedmont was also restored
Country
Role at the Congress of Vienna
France
Bourbon dynasty re-instated – Louis XVIII least objectionable
Represented by Tallyrand (who had worked for the revolutionary
government, Napoleon, then Louis XVIII). Used his skills to get
France a lenient settlement.
First given boundaries of 1792, then smaller boundaries of 1789
First no war reparations, then 700 million francs, army of
occupation for 5 years
No longer a colonial power – Haiti and Canada gone
Supports the balance of power – welcomed fully back into
European affairs. If other European leaders want the Bourbon
dynasty to survive, then they have to treat it with respect
Role after the Congress of Vienna until the Revolutions of 1848
Constitutional Charter was truly a Constitutional monarchy with a
legislature and guaranteed civil liberties (freedom of the press &
religion, meritocracy, 100,000 voting in 1815,)
Carried out the dirty work of the Holy Alliance, actively
intervened to maintain autocratic regime in Spain in 1821
Helped Greece gain independence (tied to classicism) 1827
Took Algeria then Charles X repudiated the Constitutional
Charter – toppled in 3 “glorious” days
Lafayette offered crown to Louis Philippe 170,000 voting
By 1848, people are frustrated with his non-democratic tendencies
Slightly liberal constitutional monarchy – Parliament and the
historic rights of Englishmen (Magna Carta, Petition of Right,
English Bill of Rights) – basic rights for all balanced by class
deference
Initially reactionary - Corn Laws (1815) inflated the price of grain
Suspended the rights of habeas corpus and peaceful
demonstrations 1817
Six Acts controlled the press and eliminated mass meetings
Battle of Peterloo
Britain
Represented by Castlereagh
Strongest navy in the world
Better urban administration, eventually greater economic
liberalism, civil equality for Catholics, limited imports of foreign
grain 1820s
Reform Bill of 1832 – House of Commons more powerful,
industrial areas gained representation, 12% of men could now
vote (comfortable middle class and richer farmers)
Chartist demands denied
Repealed Corn Laws 1846
Ten Hours Act
Beginning their century of world leadership 1814-1914
Helped Greece gain independence (tied to classicism) 1827
Wants a balance of power, OK with Louis XVIII, worried about
Prussia and Russia
Growing empire – Colonies included Ceylon, India Cape Colony,
West Indies, Malta, Ionian Islands, Heligoland, St. Lucia,
Trinadad & Tobago, Mauritius and Singapore
Extra notes on France:
Louis XVIII “granted” a narrowly liberal constitutional monarchy called a “Charter”. He understood that the French monarchy had to make some
sort of compromise with the forces of revolution.
 Constitutional monarchy as conceived in 1791
 Guaranteed civil liberties like freedom of the press and religion
 Guaranteed careers open to talent
 Recognized the property rights (property settlements) of the revolution, so property that had been confiscated from nobles and the church would
remain in peasant hands
 Issued political clemency (nobles could safely return to France)
BUT
 In the preamble of the Charter, Louis XVIII cites divine monarchy as the source of his power
 Charter was referred to as a “royal gift” to the people, not a document that reflected the natural right of popular sovereignty.
 Property rights were protected, intellectual and artistic freedom granted, a bicameral parliament created – but only 100,000 of the wealthiest
males out of a total popular of 30 million could vote
 Secular education was placed under the authority of the Catholic Church. This will be a big battle: church v. liberals over control of education.
 By 1822, a law had been passed which punished criticizing divine right with a death sentence
Charles X not willing to compromise, he was determined to restore divine right monarchy. Disbanded the National Guard which had been a way to
climb up the middle class. Refused to recognize the Constitution. The monarchists suffered greatly in the next election. So he dissolved the newly
elected chamber of deputies, suspended freedom of the press and raised property qualifications for future elections. (real property, not just wealth)
Protests started by journalists, supported by other laborers. Several hundred demonstrators were killed then the king was forced to flee. His
government collapsed in 3 days – “the glorious three days.” The bourgeoisie set out to unseat an unpopular minister and ended up toppling the entire
regime. Liberals who feared the establishment of a republic established a constitutional monarchy.
Lafayette, who was the head of a transitional government, invited (on behalf of the legislature) Charles X’s Orlean cousin, Louis Philippe to be king.
Louis Philippe was offered the crown by the French people. He had to accept the constitutional monarchy arrangement. Willing to wear the tricolor
of the revolutionary/Napoleonic period. Louis Philippe was known as the “citizen king”. Vote extended from 100,000 to 170,000.
Members of the Quadruple Alliance wanted different things
Russia Alexander I
Defeat Napoleon and put the crown prince of Sweden (a former French general) on the throne – this would make the
French monarch dependent on Russia
Want a large Poland under Russian control
Austria Metternich
Keep Napoleon or his son as ruler making a much reduced France dependent on Austria (Napoleon rejected this)
Gave up Belgium (the Austrian Netherlands) and some land in Southern Germany in exchange for land in Northern
Italy
Prussia
Willing to go to war to stop Russia and Prussia (from getting Saxony)
Couldn’t decide what to do with Napoleon
Want Saxony – rich, industrial
Britain Castlereagh
French had to get out of Belgium, Napoleon must go, French could pick their own government but a Bourbon
restoration would be best
Britain was loaning $$ to the rest as Napoleon refused to give up fighting, this helped the British get their way
France Tallyrand
Willing to go to war to stop Russia and Prussia
Offers up Louis XVIII as the least objectionable candidate peaceable to his neighbors, acceptable to the people of
France
Louis XVIII had once believed in absolutism, but he learned from decades in exile. Offered up a constitutional
monarchy – actually presented as a “gift” of the king (how absolutist) but it guaranteed legal equality, allowed all
classes to hold public office, created a bicameral parliamentary system. Recognized parts of the Napoleonic Code
and Napoleons deal with the Catholic Church in the Concordat of 1801. Allowed people to keep land purchased
during the revolution, kept the abolition of feudalism. However, only 100,000 voted.
Use Russia/Prussia aggression as a way to get position at the negotiations. Cuddled up to Austria and Britain.
After Napoleon’s 100 Days had to agree to 1789 borders, support an army of occupation for 5 years and pay a 700
million Franc indemnity