The Aftermath of the
Congress of Vienna
What did it really do?
What are the same problems?
Congress of Vienna: In 1814,
Austrian foreign minister Prince
Klemens von Metternich along with
leaders from Great Britain, Prussia,
Russia (and later France), to
restore principle of legitimacy monarchs across Europe to make
sure the balance of power was kept
in check
Political Ideals
Conservatism
Liberalism
Nationalism
•Want to go back
in time.
•Extremists who
oppose change
(status quo).
•European victors
took a reactionary
view towards
politics.
•Reinstated
absolute
monarchs.
•Spain and Two
Sicilies abolished
constitutions.
•Civil liberties,
or rights
should be
protected
•Religious
toleration
•Legislature
and
Constitution
should rule
land – not
monarch!
•French Revolution
and Napoleon’s
conquests sparked
this ideal
•Groups that
shared common
heritage/culture,
and govt.
•Reactionaries
feared these
groups. Why?
Alliances Among the
Powers
Quadruple
Alliance
•Britain,
Austria,
Prussia,
&Russia. Later
France.
•Goal: discuss
common
interests, and
maintain peace.
•Practical
alliance? Why?
Holy Alliance
•All European
rulers except
British king,
Turkish sultan,
and pope.
•Monarchs rule
as Christians.
•Symbolic?
Why?
Concert of
Europe
•Nations in
Europe from the
Quadruple
Alliance.
•Maintain peace
and status quo.
•Practical
alliance? Why?
Conclusion
• The Congress of Vienna was frequently
criticized by nineteenth-century and more
recent historians for ignoring national and
liberal impulses, and for imposing a stifling
reaction on the Continent.
• It was an integral part in what became
known as the Conservative Order, in which
the liberties and civil rights associated
with the American and French Revolutions
were de-emphasized, so that a fair balance
of power, peace and stability, might be
achieved.