Definitions and IDs

1. Definitions and IDs • coalition • hegemony • proletariat

2. Questions and Imperatives • Discuss the who, what, when, where, why, how, and significance of the Congress of Vienna. • Discuss France after Napoleon Bonaparte’s second abdication.

3. Congress of Vienna • even before Napoleon’s defeat in 1814, representatives of the (4) allied nations agreed to form a coalition to prevent any European nation from gaining hegemony in Europe • they hoped that the coalition would last at least 20 years • Treaty of Paris was signed in May 1814 and Louis XVIII came to reign France, restored by the coalition • work for diplomats • met between September 1814 – June 1815 • 1814 (the 4 major nations began discussions, but then Napoleon returned) • Napoleon defeated in battle of Waterloo and Congress resumes 1815

4. Representatives • Austria - Prince Metternich • England - Lord Castlereagh • Russia - Lord Alexander • Prussia - Prince Hardenburg • France - Prince Talleyrand • first, only as an observer, later as a participant • ALSO • rulers and princes of smaller German states traveled to Vienna, hoping to maintain independence • What would be your concerns if you were one of these representatives?

5. Let’s take a look at these men:

6. Prince Talleyrand • born with a deformity • sent off to be a priest (bishop) • defrocked for immoral behavior • became foreign minister of “National Assembly” • took refuge in England during the Reign of Terror • foreign minister under Napoleon • In 1808, Talleyrand was instrumental in the Tilsit Armistice • but then he had secret communications with Russia • head of the secret service intercepted Talleyrand’s letters for a year, making copies and eventually showing them to Napoleon in 1809 (“treason by your foreign minister”) • Napoleon respected Talleyrand as having served his country well and only had him locked up (it would be the same with Napoleon) • Now, represented monarchy of Louis XVIII at Vienna

7. Klemens von Metternich • foreign minister of Austria, a multi-national nation • a diplomatic expert • nobility, Rhinelander, not Austrian • went to work for Austrian crown because of his expertise • stood up for the national interest of Austria • had a reactionary attitude (he looked to the past for his current model) • he suggested a peace (or had it been Talleyrand’s proposal?) based on the institutions of the old regime (“Principles of Legitimacy”) • restoration of old regime in various European countries • Metternich convinced the congress to go easy on France • May 1814 - 1st Treaty (France was allowed to keep the frontiers of 1792, three years of territory conquered) • after Napoleon returned fight, the 2nd Treaty - France had to cut back land to 1789 frontier, pay reparations, and have an occupying army in France for 5 years • Let’s be lenient with France so as not to instill a feeling of revenge in their mind (if we treat them leniently, they will learn to live with us in peace)

8. Lord Castlereagh • British foreign minister • cold, shy, aloof, • single passion was sheep herding • main interest was England • wanted freedom of the seas for England • influential (despite Metternich) in framing the final decisions of the Congress • suggested an independent Poland (upon which especially Russia and Prussia would not agree) • (Polish forces had fought on the side of the French) • Agreed the guiding principle at Vienna was “legitimacy” • legitimized return of the Bourbons to France • avoided a loss of French Territory

9. Tsar Alexander I • deeply religious (Eastern Orthodox) • drafted a document for a Holy Alliance, signed by Prussia, Russia, Austria • each of the nations promised to assist whenever peace, religion, justice threatened

10. Karl August von Hardenberg • Great diplomatic skills, but… • Could not compete with Metternich • Had spent much time in western European countries before he stood for Prussia as Chancellor for the Hohenzollern family

11. Goals and Outcomes • Goals: • Restore Europe as before with a viable balance of power • each nation has the right to exist as a major European power • prevent hegemony (predominance, military superiority, influence) • if any country appears to move toward hegemony, other countries will combine to put them down...no more Napoleons • feudal regime better than a centralized government (de-centralized) • wanted secure balance of powers

12. Outcomes • Outcomes: Redrawing of frontiers • neutrality in vital N. Sea ports as Kingdom of Netherlands created • Austria received Lombardy and Venetia (N. Italy) • Prussia received territory on the Rhine R. and about 1/2 of Saxony • Russia received a good chunk of Poland • A Kingdom of Poland proclaimed, but held as a Russian protectorate • G.B received territories in S. Africa and S. America •  Could they put “Humpty Dumpty” back together? - no! • Habsburg territories had been chewed up, princes were scattered and dead • German states were boiled down to 38, a newly forged German Confederation with Austria as its president

13. Back in France… • Louis XVIII, Brother of Louis XVI (Bourbon) • Spent time in England in exile • Not a French choice, but an allied choice • he didn’t give into the pressures of the ultras (ultraroyalists) • ultras returning to France wanted back their land, but it had been sold to middle-class and peasants • middle class wanted political power • Louis maintained peace between the two, a balancing act • Louis XVIII died in 1824

14. Another Bourbon • Charles X, Louis’s younger brother, became new King in 1824 • Charles moved to restore former privileges to the nobility • compensated aristocratic landowners, money came from middle class investments • equality before the law seemed threatened • public opinion down on Charles, even his Chamber was against him • He tried to “rig” elections • Revolution of 1830 • Charles had adopted a reactionary policy, trying to undermine the changes brought by the French Revolution • He tried to restore the aristocracy (nobility) to exclusive rule • This provoked the lower and middle classes • Uprisings by students and workers in Paris, yet these gained little from their efforts; the bourgeoisie maintained power in the Assembly • It is called the revolution of 1830, but it was merely a coup • This “revolution” preserved the political power the bourgeoisie had gained in the earlier decades • Charles was forced to abdicate

15. Orleans Family • The Assembly invited a new monarch to lead France • Louis Philippe of the Orleanist Dynasty (relative of the Bourbon family) promised to honor the constitution • Leads France until 1848, THE YEAR OF REVOLUTION

16. 1815-1848 • 2 social forces opposed each other • those who had their roots in the Ancien Regime • men of Dual Revolutions who wanted power in government • one could restore land boundaries to 1789, but not the boundaries of ideas • ideas of national identity (growing nationalism) AND social freedoms • coming of railroads spread the Industrial Revolution faster • a rapid development of modern industrial capitalism created a huge proletariat • Bourgeoisie commanded the economy

17. Economy • traditional features were preeminent • agriculture over industrial production • priority given to consumer goods over heavy production • absence of cheap and rapid means of transportation • finances and banks held in rich families (Rothschilds) • credit banks only found in England • production in precious metals slowed down during this time; there was a fall in fold prices • ups and down (problems and recovery) with bad harvest during this time • Irish Potato famine

18. Demography • population continued to grow despite disease (typhus, bubonic plague, and cholera) • in 50 years, population of Europe grew from 167 to 266 million people • these numbers grew in the towns where surplus labor was needed • EACH country developed differently than its neighbors

19. DISCUSSION QUESTION: What would your goals have been at the Congress of Vienna if you were representing a particular nation?