Peace in Europe

1. Mr. White’s World History Peace in Europe

2. Big Questions • After this section, we should be able to answer the following questions: • How did Metternich and European nations work to re-establish the order before the French Revolution? Metternich, Austria

3. Congress of Vienna • Various diplomats would meet at the Congress of Vienna, in Austria • Prince Klemens von Metternich would preside over the conference

4. What to do? • The nations of Europe are faced with many questions and problems after the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars • What to do about the new borders that France created? • What to do about these pesky liberal ideas? • How do you ensure peace? • What to do about the governments of Europe?

5. Decisions • France was forced to: • Give up territory won in the wars • Pay compensation for war damages • Great Britain gained French colonies in the West Indies • Austria gained Italian provinces from France Wellington, Great Britain

6. Prussia and Russia • Prussia and Russia made it known that they wanted to expand their borders by taking French-held lands • Great Britain and Austria thought increased Russian and Prussian power would lead to a power imbalance • Great Britain and Austria made an alliance with France, in case of aggression by Prussia or Russia • Prussia and Russia received some new territory Karl August von Hardenberg, Prussia

7. The Return of Divine Right • All of the people who came to the Congress believed in rule by divine right – important for proper order • Re-established royal dynasties in France, Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sardinia, and Sicily • Louis XVIII was recognized as legitimate king of France Louis XVIII, France

8. France • French borders were reduced to those of 1790 • Established buffer states around France • Netherlands became one country • German states formed the German Confederation, headed by Austria • Switzerland kept its neutrality and independence Talleyrand, France

9. Reactionaries • The diplomats at the Congress of Vienna were reactionaries – opposed change and wanted to return things to the way they were before • Wanted to stop the spread of liberalism, the acceptance of Enlightenment ideas and democratic reforms • Freedom of speech and press • Religious freedom • The reactionaries also wanted to crush the rise of nationalism throughout Europe • New boundaries reflected the wishes of the rulers, not the governed

10. New Alliances • New alliances were formed to stop the possible spread of liberalism and nationalism • Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia – Quadruple Alliance • France later admitted • This alliance would meet regularly to discuss: • Security of the monarchies • Preserving national boundaries • Prevention of revolutionary movements

11. The Holy Alliance • Russians formed the Holy Alliance • Called for Christian rulers in Europe to cooperate as a union of monarchs • Pope Pius VII and Great Britain stayed out of this • Most European countries joined it Alexander I, Russia

12. Liberalism and Nationalism • Alliances encouraged European nations to cooperate to preserve the peace • However… • German students in Prussia were demonstrated for liberal reforms and nationalism • Metternich persuaded King Frederick William III of Prussia to pass laws repressing these students • Spain also persuaded their monarch to agree to constitutional government • Britain stayed out of attempts to stop liberalism

13. Metternich’s Legacy • Metternich and the Congress had been able to… • Re-establish monarchies • Make alliances to stop liberalism and nationalism • However, these measures would not last long – nationalism and liberalism would be back to stay