Chapter 7 Section 5 The Congress of Vienna Objective: Explain the influence of the Congress of Vienna Vocabulary: Congress of Vienna, Klemens von Metternich, Balance of Power, Legitimacy, Holy Alliance, & Concert of Europe

Setting the Stage European leaders decided to meet to discuss the future of Europe Congress of Vienna: a series of meetings during which the European leaders sought to establish long-lasting peace & stability after the defeat of Napoleon The congress was scheduled for 4 weeks but it lasted 8 months What might happen in France if they didn’t have a meeting to establish long-lasting peace?

Check for Understanding What happened to Napoleon after he was defeated at Waterloo? They executed him They exiled him to a remote island He died in prison, while awaiting trial

Metternich’s Plan for Europe Most of the decisions at the congress were made among representatives of the five “great powers” – Russia, Prussia, Austria, Great Britain, & France Foreign minister of Austria, Prince Klemens von Metternich was the most influential representative Metternich had 3 main goals Prevent French aggression Restore a balance of power Restore Europe’s royal families to their thrones Winter of 1814 to 1815 Why is important to include France in this meeting?

Check for Understanding While restoring the Monarchs in Europe. They chose leaders who had….. A big army A lot of money A blood line (rightful heir)

The Containment of France To make the weak countries around France stronger the congress decided to United the Austrian Netherlands & Dutch Republic Joined 39 German states into a loose German Confederation The changes made around France enabled the countries of Europe to contain France & prevent it from overpowering weaker nations

Balance of Power They didn’t want to severely punish France, because it might encourage the French to take revenge France remained a major but diminished European power Balance of power: a political situation in which no one nation is powerful enough to pose a threat to others How does the balance of power work? Demonstration.

Legitimacy The congress implemented legitimacy (a hereditary right of a monarch to rule) They restored to power the monarchs that Napoleon had removed from their thrones The congress was successful because it was fair enough that no country was left bearing a grudge The congress created peace in Europe for nearly 40 years This included France, Spain, several other states in Italy, & Central Europe They would come to each other’s aid in case of threats to their peace

Political Changes Beyond Vienna Kings & princes resumed power in country after country Britain & France had strong constitutional monarchies However, Eastern & Central Europe still had absolute monarchs

Conservative Europe Rulers were still worried that the ideals of liberty, equality, & fraternity might encourage revolutions elsewhere Russia, Austria, & Prussia signed an agreement called the Holy Alliance (based on Christian principles & to help combat the forces of revolution) Concert of Europe: series of alliances among European nations in the 19th century, created to prevent the outbreak of revolutions The revolution had a huge effect on Europe; there was a mixture of ideas Why is it called the Holy Alliance?

Revolution in Latin America Creoles (colonists born in Spanish America) seized control of many colonies in the Americas When the king was restored to the throne, royalists tried to regain control of the colonial governments Mexicans rose in revolt & successfully threw off Spain’s control Other Spanish colonies in Latin America also claimed independence Brazil declared independence from Portugal

Check for Understanding What colony of the French sparked their own revolution for independence? Haiti Louisiana Canada

Long-Term Legacy The congress decreased the power of France but increased the power of Great Britain & Prussia Nationalism began to spread in Italy, Germany, Greece These feelings exploded into revolutions & new nations would be formed People began to see democracy as the best way to ensure equality & justice for all