Western Civilization II
Philosophical Conservatism
Not rejection of all change, but
reaction to violent upheaval of
revolution
 Believed in evolution – building
on the best traditions
 Edmund Burke opposed
French Revolution because it
threw away tradition and culture

Edmund Burke
Religious Conservatism
Particularly resented
Jacobin attempt to destroy
Church
 Joseph de Maistre
championed papal
supremacy
(ultramontanism)
 Argued religion, not science,
was true civilizing force

Joseph de Maistre
Political Conservatism

Power & privileges of aristocracy are necessary
for social harmony
 Aristocracy defined as rule of the best
 Aristocrats had necessary experience & education

Scoffed at idea of “natural rights” and abstract
theories of government
 Institutions evolve over time to meet particular needs
of a society
 Must be based on history & national character
(volkgeist)
The Concert of Europe

Congress of Vienna (1814-15) est.
principles of legitimacy & maintaining
the balance of power
 Netherlands, Prussia & Piedmont-
Sardinia strengthened as buffers
against France
Concert of Europe: Great Powers
agreed to meet periodically to
maintain the balance of power
 Great Britain dropped out in 1822
because unwilling to put down liberal
revolutions in Italy & Spain
 Holy Alliance: France, Austria,
Prussia & Russia

 Wanted to undo revolutions in Spanish
Klemens von Metternich
American colonies, but blocked by
Britain & U.S. (Monroe Doctrine)
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Europe after 1815
Latin American Revolutions
Conservatism in Practice: France

Louis XVIII (1814-1824): “L’union
et l’oublie”
 Kept Concordat & Code Civil
 Charter had bicameral legislature, but
suffrage limited to wealthiest 100,000

King Louis XVIII
Charles X (1824-1830): “Le trone
et l’autel”
 Tried to replace individualism with
medieval corporatism
 Law of Sacrilege made tampering with
the Host a capital crime
 Dismissed liberal Chamber of
Deputies in March 1830 & issued
drastic July Ordinances censoring
press
King Charles X
The July Revolution (1830)
The July Monarchy

July Revolution of 1830
placed Louis Philippe, Duke of
Orleans, on the throne
 Called the “Citizen King”
 Wore business suits & hats

Tried to recreate the liberal
constitutional monarchy of
1789-1792
 Repudiated ultramontanism &
corporatism
 Suffrage only doubled to 200,000
 Francois Guizot stabilized
economy, 1840-47
King Louis Philippe
The Revolution of 1848


Economic depression & foolish
attempts to suppress dissent
led to revolt in Feb. 1848
End of Socialist Louis Blanc’s
National Workshops sparked
June Days uprising
 Brutally suppressed by Cavaignac

Liberty
Constitution of 1848 created
unicameral legislature &
president elected by universal
male suffrage
The Second Republic
Dec. 1848 presidential
election was landslide win
for Louis Napoleon
Bonaparte
 Monarchists in legislature
divided between the
Legitimists and Orleanists
 Dec. 2, 1851 coup d’état
extended presidential term
to 10 years & reduced
legislature’s power
 Dec. 1852 – Emperor
Napoleon III crowned

Louis Napoleon Bonaparte