4.6 Flashcards
The Congress of Vienna
o Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia agreed to be united to defeat Frame and ensure peace after the war
-the purpose was to reconstruct warton europe after the defeat of napoleon
o The leader was Prince Klemens von Metternich
o Metternich was guided by the Principle of legitimacy: by restoring the legitimate monarchs who would preserve traditional institution would reestablish peace and stability
o They believed balance of power would prevent one country from dominating Europe
o In order to prevent France from expanding again, they created major defensive barriers against possible French expansion
o Napoleon’s return to France from Elba DID NOT CHANGE MUCH OF THE CONGRESS OF VIENNA’S AGREEMENT, but it could France to be punished
o They managed to avoid a general conflict for almost a century
The Quadruple Alliance
o Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia
Prince Klemens von Metternich
He was the Austrian foreign minister
o He was conceited and self-assured
-he didn’t like the french revolutionary ideals of equality, democratic government and national states
-he liked old regime institutions of class distinction, absolute monarchy, and multinational empires
-he directed the congress toward settlements restoring the old reigme
Principle of Legitimacy
o According to Metternich, restoring the legitimate monarchs who would preserve traditional institution would reestablish peace and stability
-sometimes they thought it wouldn’t be “practical” to put back the original monarchs
The Congress of Vienna: Principle of legitimacy
o They did this in France, Spain, and Italy
o Since they claimed Poland was Russia, Austria, and Prussia’s, it remained under Russian control although it was guaranteed its independence
Principle of Compensation
- countries were repaid for helping to defeat napoleon
- Prussia got part of Poland and land near the Rhine river
- England got colonial possessions
- Holland lost Belgium
- Austria lost Belgium but got Lombardy and Venetian
- Sweden lost Finland and got norwary
Balance of Power
The diplomats believed balance of power would prevent one country from dominating Europe
The Congress of Vienna: Balance of Power
- In order to balance Russian gains, Prussia and Austria had been strengthened
- in order to protect themselves from france POSSIBLY getting powerful, they created defensive barriers (netherlands expanded, prussia was given more control by getting the Rhine, and the Germanic Confederation (a league of German states) was created)
- since the french people supported napoleon when he came back, they pushed france’s borders back
Contempt for Democracy and nationalism
- denied people any voice in selecting their rulers and government
- hereditary rulers reinstated as absolute monarchs