Conservatism, Liberalism, and Nationalism A Volatile Mix in the Post-Napoleonic Period

The Source of Revolutionary Disturbances Prince Metternich of Austria “When Paris sneezes, Europe catches a cold. The disease must be cured, the volcano must be extinguished, the gangrene must be burned out with a hot iron.” Opposed Liberalism and Nationalism of the French Revolution

Def: advocates limited government in order to protect individual liberties. Def: advocates limited government in order to protect individual liberties. It is the ideology of Freedom: Equality of opportunity Freedom from arbitrary arrest Freedom of Press Freedom of Assembly Freedom of Religion Freedom of Speech Free Trade Right to Property Bourgeoisie (Middle class) were liberals. Do you know why?

Def: a sense of unity based upon shared characteristics: language, culture, historical experience, religion, ethnicity and geography. To some, nationalism expressed a desire or right for nationalities to rule themselves. Examples of nationalities that did not rule themselves in 1815 were Germans, Italians, and Poles. They wanted it – conservatives worried about more revolution Nationalists came from all classes. What mattered most was their nationality which united them together in their desire to rule themselves.

Def: advocates legitimate, traditional government in order to preserve the status-quo. Edmund Burke, the founder of modern conservative thought, wrote: “The state was a partnership, but one not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead and those who are to be born…No one generation therefore has the right to destroy this partnership.”

CONSERVATISM continued: Preserve the Status Quo: Peace, Stability, and Order is achieved by a Balance of Power. Preserve the Status Quo: Peace, Stability, and Order is achieved by a Balance of Power. Conservatives: Edmund Burke, Prince Metternich Generally aristocrats of noble or royal blood The peacemakers of 1815 (Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia) were men who were backward-looking and conservative, who believed that liberalism was responsible for a generation of war and untold bloodshed and suffering.

A meeting of the great powers after the defeat of Napoleon to restore the order & stability of Europe.

OBJECTIVES: The THREE goals of the Congress of Vienna Legitimacy – restore monarchs on their thrones. Put the government back to the way it was. Reactionary and conservatives rule Legitimacy – restore monarchs on their thrones. Put the government back to the way it was. Reactionary and conservatives rule Compensation – Land! in 1815, size was everything. Winners regain what they lost from France. Try for more Compensation – Land! in 1815, size was everything. Winners regain what they lost from France. Try for more Balance of Power – a new European order in which no single power was able to dominate. Balance of Power – a new European order in which no single power was able to dominate.

The delegates at the Congress of Vienna wanted to prevent another Napoleon figure from ever conquering Europe again. They feared liberalism and nationalism because they believed they are what had opened the door to Napoleon. So the system set up by Metternich at the Congress of Vienna not only wanted to create a balance of power between countries but conservative/reactionary rule within. Each country’s rulers would suppress liberal and nationalist threats through various means like censorship and suppression.

Reaction against the Reactionary Congress of Vienna and Metternich Across Europe, liberals and nationalists tested Metternich system – lots of revolutions! Presence of all three – conservatism, liberalism, and nationalism makes for volatile relations within and among nation states Revolutions of 1830 and 1848 show legacy of French Revolution and Enlightenment are not dead. Vive la Revolution!!!!!! But conservatism remains a major force!