The Dike and the Flood: Domestic Section 11.54

Introduction Congress of Vienna sought to end conflicts that were plaguing Europe for over 25 years Louis XVIII is restored to the French throne Tories governed to maintain the old England Metternich maintains the policy of conservatism in central Europe Alexander I is a wild card Tsar, pushing religion into politics, self- chosen world savior, Jacobin, liberal Metternich hoped to convert him into a conservative Circle of discontent and tension was established Response of the Congress was viewed as reactionary by liberals Activities of the liberals were viewed as revolutionary by the Congress

Reaction after 1815: France, Poland Republicans (regicides) that rallied to Napoleon’s return (100 days) were brutalized by the counterrevolutionaries Resulted in a White terror against republicans and protestants 1820 a fanatical workman’s assassination of Duke de Berry (King’s nephew) deepened the split 1824 Louis XVIII died and Charles X (father of murdered Duke de Berry) came to the throne Louis XVI youngest brother was first to emigrate in he claimed absolute power Began campaign against republicanism, liberalism, and constitutionalism Poland struggles under its viceroy Alexander I Nationalist interests in Poland promote expansion Poles could not get along with Alexander’s viceroy Russian landholders were not excited by the republican presence on their boarder Revolutionaries (professors and students of University of Vilna)meet in underground societies Efforts to stop revolutionary forces builds tension Charles X

Reaction after 1815: The German States Germany is was left as a loose association of independent states (Bund) Nationalist movement is centered in the universities Volksgeist and Deutschtum are commonly discussed students formed Burschenschaft in 1815 which were clubs of serious political discussion –a kind of German youth movement –held congress at Wartburg in 1817 listened to rousing speeches, marched to Teutonic costume –Informer named Kotzebue to the Tsar is murdered –Receives hundreds of letters of congratulation Metternich issues the Carlsbad Decrees Dissolved the Burschenschaft and gymnastic clubs Placed government officials in the universities Censored books and newspapers Repression becomes the status quo

England Landed classes feared an onrush of imported agricultural goods and the collapse of farm prices Gentries Response to open agricultural markets spurred the implementations of “Corn Laws” ( ) –tariff on imports that maintained high prices for domestic produce Wages could not keep up with prices Post war depression in economy Contributes to the spread of radicalism Demands are made for reform in the HOC and social welfare system

riot broke out in London in Dec 1816, In Feb, the Prince Regent was attacked in carriage gov suspends habeas corpus and employ agents provocateurs (spies) to charge radicals Manchester industrialists use unrest to push for political representation Mass demonstration of 80 thousand at St. Peter’s Fields is fired upon by soldiers They asked for universal male suffrage, annual elections of HOC, repeal of Corm Laws Perfectly orderly protest (Peterloo Massacre of 1819) comparison to Waterloo 11 killed, 400 wounded, including 113 women England

Six Acts Parliament responds with Six Acts (1819) Outlawed seditions and blasphemous literature Stamp tax on newspapers Search of private houses for arms Restricted the right of public meetings Revolutionaries planed the assassination of the Cabinet Caught by police on Cato Street (1820) Five members of the Cato Street Conspiracy are hanged Reactionary policies dug in to stop the flood of revolutionary spirit