CONGRESS OF VIENNA

September 1814 – hundreds of diplomats gathered, with those from Britain, Austria, Russia, and Prussia being the most important, to arrange a final peace settlement after the defeat of Napoleon Purpose of the Congress of Vienna was to restore order and stability to Europe following the end of the Napoleonic Wars

Negotiators The leader of the Congress of Vienna was the Austrian foreign minister Prince Klemens von Metternich He was a conservative and a reactionary He hated change and democracy and wanted Europe to return to how it was prior to 1789 He dominated the Congress of Vienna and European politics for the next 30 years Other major negotiators were Czar Alexander I of Russia, Lord Castlereagh of Britain, King Frederick III of Prussia, and Talleyrand from France

GOALS Restore the balance of power Make sure no one country can become too powerful like France did Redrawing the map of Europe Rearranged territories to make balance of power possible, especially to contain France Nations around France were made stronger Prussia received territory along France’s eastern border The Dutch Republic and the Austrian Netherlands were united as the Kingdom of the Netherlands 38 independent German states were organized into the German Confederation

The two strongest in the Confederation were Austria and Prussia Italy was also organized into nine states France lost all of its conquered territory and its boundaries were the same as it was in 1792 Countries who aided France lost territory and countries who fought against France were rewarded Restore monarchies Restored the monarchies that Napoleon had eliminated Principle of Legitimacy = monarchs or families who had been in power prior to Napoleon and the French Revolution were restored to power

Maintain peace and stability Stop all revolutions Principle of Intervention = the great powers had the right to send armies into countries where there were revolutions in order to put down the revolution and restore legitimate monarchs Return Europe to how it was prior to Napoleon and the French Revolution

Concert of Europe Created by the Congress of Vienna, this was designed to maintain peace and stability in Europe European leaders would meet in conferences to discuss foreign policy questions and make sure that there was peace Also had the right to put down revolutions

The -isms Conservatism Liberalism Political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, favors obedience to political authority and organized religion Hates change, especially revolution Metternich and the other leaders at the Congress of Vienna were strong advocates of conservatism Liberalism Political philosophy based on Enlightenment principles, holding that people should be as free as possible from gov’t restraint and that civil liberties should be protected

Wanted guarantees of the protection of their rights = constitutions Wanted religious toleration Still only believed that men of property could vote or hold office Nationalism Sense of identity and unity as a people People owe loyalty to nation rather than dynasties or political units Each nationality should have its own gov’t Was seen as a threat to the existing political order and was strongly opposed by conservatives

Romanticism Socialism An intellectual movement that emerged in reaction to the ideas of the Enlightenment Stressed feelings and emotions Often associated with conservatives since it glorified the medieval past and nature Socialism System in which society, usually in the form of gov’t, owns and controls the means of production

Revolts in Latin America Influenced by new political ideals of a successful American Revolution and the French Revolution Napoleon provided revolutionaries in Latin America the opportunity for revolt when he invaded Spain and Portugal, overthrowing the Spanish monarchy These invasions seriously weakened both countries Between 1807 to 1825 a series of revolts enabled most of Latin America to become independent The first revolt took place on a French colony and was led by a former slave, Toussaint L’ouverture In 1804 this colony became known as Haiti

Liberators of South America Jose de San Martin of Argentina and Simon Bolivar of Venezuela Believed that all Spanish rule must be removed from all South American land for any South American nation to be free Led revolts from 1810 to 1824 that freed all of South America Last threat – the Concert of Europe Favored the use of troops to restore Spanish control in Latin America The British disagreed and their navy stood between Latin America and any European invasion force Want to trade with Latin America themselves

Monroe Doctrine – 1823 President James Monroe guarantees the independence of the new Latin American nations and warns against any European intervention in the Americas