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Concert of Europe

The European Balance of Power in the 19 th Century. Concert of Europe. Concert of Europe. The name for the balance of power that existed between the European powers from the end of the Napoleonic Wars to WWI Great Britain France Austrian Empire Russia Prussia.

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Concert of Europe

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  1. The European Balance of Power in the 19th Century Concert of Europe

  2. Concert of Europe • The name for the balance of power that existed between the European powers from the end of the Napoleonic Wars to WWI • Great Britain • France • Austrian Empire • Russia • Prussia

  3. 1848 – The Year of Revolution • Sparked across Europe • Nationalism/Imperialism – changes in imperial system and national pride • Liberalism/Conservatism/Communism/Socialism • Debate over the role of the government, • Anger over natural rights and universal suffrage • Anger over inequities across Europe • Industrialism – hardships causing anger

  4. July Revolution in France in 1830 brought Constitutional Monarchy but did not solve the political problems

  5. February Revolution in France • Demanding political changes and ‘the right to work’ • Led to abolition of the monarch and Second French Republic under Louis Napoleon Bonaparte (nephew of Napoleon) • French changes sparkedrevolution acrossEurope

  6. Revolutions spread because of newspapers • Peasants and workers made it more than a movement of political ideologies • German states revolted demanding unification and Constitution – Prussian King Frederick William IV reluctantly fired on protesters • Austrian Empire used the army to put down various nationalist riots across the Empire – including getting assistance from Russia in suppressing Hungary • Many Italian states went to war over unification – pitting Sardinia against Austria

  7. Most of the Revolutions failed but they brought the problems of he nations to the forefront and showed the need for change • In France – Louis Napoleon took power in 1851 as Emperor Napoleon III

  8. The Eastern Question The Crimean War (1853 – 1856) • Ottoman Empire was a buffer for European powers – was the ‘sick man of Europe’ • As a power play Louis-Napoleon demanded that France would protect the Catholics in the Ottoman Empire from abuses • Russia responded with similar demands over the larger group of Orthodox Christians and demanded political influences and control in the Black Sea

  9. France and Britain were unlikely allies but supported Turkey (Ottoman) to keep Russia in place and keep access to trade routes • Russia expected Austrian help but received none • Turkey, Britain, France and Sardinia went to war with Russia – seen as a huge military power

  10. Main theatre of war was the Crimean Peninsula in the Black Sea • Terrible losses on both sides • Thin Red Line • Charge of the Light Brigade – Balaclava • Calls for peace in France and Britain led to Peace of Paris (1856) with Russia having no Black Sea fleet • Florence Nightingale – pioneer in nursing during the war

  11. Risorgimento The Italian Question • Attempts throughout early 19thC. to unite Italy • 1848 Revolutions failed under Sardinian King Charles Albert • 1859 – Sardinian PM Camillodi Cavour worked to seize Italian territory from Austria • 1860 – Giuseppe Garibaldi – a nationalist revolutionary returned to Italy and, with support of Cavour and King Victor Emmanuel II he invaded southern Italy (Naples and Sicily) declaring them under King Victor Emmanuel

  12. A unified Italy was declared in 1861 but with some missing pieces • 1866 –Austro-Prussian War – gave Italy the opportunity to take Austrian controlled lands • 1870 – Franco-Prussian War – allowed Italy to take Rome

  13. German Unification "The great questions of the time will not be resolved by speeches and majority decisions—that was the great mistake of 1848 and 1849—but by iron and blood." • German nationalism in the early 19th C. called for a united Germany • Zollverein – German confederacy – economic and political union • Railroads, economic collaboration and language made it more likely • Prussian Minister-President Otto von Bismarck saw the problems other nations were having and used them to increase Prussian power

  14. Austro-Prussian War (1866) • Prussia created a tense diplomatic situation leading to war • Austria was quickly outmanoeuvred and many of its German allies were annexed • Franco-Prussian War (1870 - 1871) • Debate over a German noble as king of Spain brought Prussia and France to war • France was soundly defeated – Battle of Sedan (Sept 1, 1870) – Emperor Napoleon and French army captured

  15. Defeat at Sedan left the French government in turmoil – proclaimed the Third Republic • Prussia besieged Paris and Anarchist communes arose in French cities • Jan 18, 1871 – in Hall of Mirrors, Versailles – Wilhelm proclaimed Emperor of Germany (Kaiser) and France relinquished Germanic territories • This became a point of vengeance that led to WWI

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