Results of France’s defeat
Fall of Napoleon and Congress of
Vienna
Congress of Vienna
Description:
• series of meetings from 1814-1815
• Vienna, Austria
• Nations in Attendance: Austria, Prussia,
Russia, and Great Britain
• wanted to:
– restore the old order after Napoleon’s defeat
– reshape Europe
– provide peace
Congress of Vienna
Description:
• Austria represented by Emperor Francis I
• Prussia represented by King Frederick William
III
• Russia represented by Czar Alexander I
• Britain and France were represented by their
foreign ministers
Prince Klemens von Metternich
• foreign minister of
Austria
• the key leader at the
Congress of Vienna
• created goals for
establishing lasting
peace and stability in
Europe
Metternich’s Plan
Goal:
Containment:
• to prevent French
aggression
• surround France with strong
countries
Action:
Alliance System:
• created alliances of powers
• would come to one
another’s aide:
– if revolution broke out
– if a European power
threatened another
Metternich’s Plan
Goal:
Balance of Power:
• situation where no nation
can threaten the others
• France was not punished,
just weaken
Action:
Restructure the European
Map:
• rearranged European
territories to keep one
country from dominating
Europe
• example: to balance Russian
territorial gains, Prussia and
Austria were given new
territories
Metternich’s Plan
Goal:
Legitimacy:
• goes against the ideas of
the Revolution
• returns idea of “Divine
Right”
• only those born into the
ruling class allowed to take
control which was
considered “legitimate”
authority
Action:
Return of the Monarchy:
• legitimate monarchs
deposed by Napoleon
would be restored in the
interest of peace and
stability
• fair deals are worked out so
that no country holds a
grudge
Review…
• A political situation in which no one nation has the
ability to conquer the others.
• What was the series of meetings designed to keep
peace in Europe following Napoleon’s defeat known
as?
• What country was Metternich from?
Results
Concert of Europe:
• series of meetings
• European powers
agreed to meet in the
future
• to take steps to keep
the balance of power
Results
Intervention:
• countries had a right to intervene where
revolutions threatened monarchies
• rejected by Britain
• supported by Austria, Prussia, Russia, and
France
Results
• Conservatives regained
control of governments
• Louis XVIII was back in
control of France
• Created an age of peace
in Europe between
nations
• diminished power of
France
• increased power of
Britain and Prussia
Results
Internal Revolts:
• sparked growth of
nationalism
• revolutions will erupt
within societies
between 1815 and 1848
• triggered revolts in
colonies
Long-Term Legacy of Vienna
• created a peace in
Europe that lasted 40
years
• citizens began to view
the principles of
democracy as the best
way for equality and
justice
Review…
• Who was in control of France following the
Congress of Vienna?
• Explain the purpose of the Concert of Europe.
• What type of govt. were most of the countries
of Europe returned to?