Download CASE STUDY Congress of Vienna

Q1 Ge bi (Fb)
The idea of a nation-state and nationalism
CASE STUDY: What were the attitudes and interests of the main statesmen at
the Congress of Vienna?
Target task
Prepare a (panel) discussion taking place in the early stages of the talks at the Congress
of Vienna. Split into groups. Each group deals with one of the main participating statesmen
and prepares to put forward his demands, taking into account the knowledge you’ve
gained so far as well. Remember that although you want to push through your wishes, you
might also have to make compromises. So major issues to be discussed will be the
following:
1. How is France to be controlled?
2. How can a balance of power in Europe be created? Should there be a balance of
power at all?
3. What to do with the territory conquered by Napoleon?
Group 1: Great Britain
Representative: Viscount Robert Stewart Castlereagh (1792-1822), British Foreign Secretary (18121822)
In 1815, Great Britain had a population of about 13 million, of which roughly 25% were living in rural areas.
It was the economically most advanced of the countries present and represented a trading nation with an
overseas empire that was protected by a powerful navy. It had a parliamentary system of government in
which the monarch had limited political influence (constitutional monarchy: the monarch is limited by the
constitution and accountable to government). Due to a long history of parliamentary democracy, freedom of
speech and of the press were, amongst others, well-established “civil rights”.
Castlereagh led the British delegation, representing Lord Liverpool’s Tory
government. He had been central to the organization of Napoleon’s defeat and
shared Metternich’s belief in the need to stabilize Europe by creating a
‘balance’ among the powers. However, the British position was slightly
different from that of the other powers. Britain already had a liberal political
system. Castlereagh was far too realistic to, however, to force political change
on other nations. Britain was also interested in its growing colonial empire and
trading links, not in the acquisition of territory in Europe. Castlereagh favoured
peace and stability, moves towards liberalism where possible (for example in
France or in Poland), the retention of Britain’s wartime gains overseas and –
generally speaking – humanitarian liberalism to be implemented.
Tory Conservative party
retention keeping
to implement to introduce
(adapted from: Derrick Murphy (ed.): Europe 1760-1871. London (Collins Educational), pp.
147, 149.)
Focus on key personalities: Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh (1769 – 1822)
The British Foreign Secretary Lord Castlereagh was the main British diplomat at
the Congress of Vienna. Castlereagh’s idea for the reorganization of Europe after
Napoleon’s defeat was to establish a Congress system, which means that the
main European powers should meet periodically in order to discuss European
affairs.
Castlereagh stands for a rather unusual British policy since he was in favour of
Great Britain getting involved in continental issues.
In August 1822 he committed suicide.
[http://de.academic.ru/pictures/dewiki
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0c96da.PNG; 3/6/11]
Q1 Ge bi (Fb)
The idea of a nation-state and nationalism
CASE STUDY: What were the attitudes and interests of the main statesmen at
the Congress of Vienna?
Target task
Prepare a (panel) discussion taking place in the early stages of the talks at the Congress
of Vienna. Split into groups. Each group deals with one of the main participating statesmen
and prepares to put forward his demands, taking into account the knowledge you’ve
gained so far as well. Remember that although you want to push through your wishes, you
might also have to make compromises. So major issues to be discussed will be the
following:
1. How is France to be controlled?
2. How can a balance of power in Europe be created? Should there be a balance of
power at all?
3. What to do with the territory conquered by Napoleon?
Group 2: Prussia
Representative: Frederick William III (1770-1840), King of Prussia (1797-1840)
In 1815, Prussia had a population of about 10.5 million, of which roughly 70% were living in rural areas.
Prussia was the “weakest” of the ‘great five’, economically speaking, as it traditionally was an agricultural
state. However, the acquisition of the industrialised Rhineland in 1815 had enlarged her capacities.
Moreover Prussia must be considered a military power at that point in time. The king ruled, in conjunction
with his ministers, council of state and civil service.
The contribution of Prussia to the final stages of the Napoleonic Wars earned
Frederick William III a seat at the Congress of Vienna, although Prussia was
regarded as a junior partner by the other powers. Frederick William had
entered Paris behind Tsar Alexander I, and accompanied him on the journey
to Vienna. Throughout the Congress he appeared anxious not to offend this
powerful neighbour, and to follow Russia’s lead. Because of the King’s
timidity and indecision, his chancellor, Karl Hardenberg, did most of the
negotiating. Frederick William III favoured a harsh settlement for France, as
many Prussians resented the French. In addition, he wanted the expansion of
Prussian territory, preferably by expanding into North Germany, and
absorbing Saxony. (adapted from: Derrick Murphy (ed.): Europe 1760-1871. London
timidity: being shy and
nervous
(Collins Educational), pp. 147)
Focus on key personalities: King Frederick William III of Prussia (1770 – 1840)
Frederick William was born in Potsdam in 1770, being the son of Frederick
William II of Prussia and Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt. He received the
usual training of a Prussian prince in the Prussian army and participated in the
campaigns against France of 1792 to 1794.
In 1797, he became King of Prussia. His first objective was to restore morality to
the court, living under the impression that his father’s court had been dominated
by moral debauchery in both political and sexual ways.
In terms of foreign policy, he at first took a neutral stance in the Napoleonic Wars.
However, the pro-war parties made him enter the war in 1806, in which year the
Prussian army, led by Frederick William himself, was devastatingly defeated by
the French in the battles of Jena and Auerstedt. The royal Hohenzollern family
had to flee to East Prussia where they were at the mercy of Tsar Alexander I, who
himself had been defeated by the French as well.
After Napoleon’s defeat in 1813, Frederick William joined forces with the Coalition
powers and travelled with the main army, along with Alexander of Russia and
Francis of Austria.
After the Congress of Vienna, Frederick William abandoned the promises for a
Prussian constitution which he had made in 1813 and turned towards political
reaction. He died in 1840 and was succeeded by his eldest son, Frederick William
IV.
[http://www.altenberg-dom.de/
images/friedrich_wilhelm_iii_von_
preussen.jpg; 3/6/11]
Q1 Ge bi (Fb)
The idea of a nation-state and nationalism
CASE STUDY: What were the attitudes and interests of the main statesmen at
the Congress of Vienna?
Target task
Prepare a (panel) discussion taking place in the early stages of the talks at the Congress
of Vienna. Split into groups. Each group deals with one of the main participating statesmen
and prepares to put forward his demands, taking into account the knowledge you’ve
gained so far as well. Remember that although you want to push through your wishes, you
might also have to make compromises. So major issues to be discussed will be the
following:
1. How is France to be controlled?
2. How can a balance of power in Europe be created? Should there be a balance of
power at all?
3. What to do with the territory conquered by Napoleon?
Group 3: Russia
Representative: Tsar Alexander I (1777-1825), Tsar of Russia (1801-1825)
In 1815, Russia had a population of about 48 million, of which roughly 95% were living in rural areas.
Russia’s economy was very backward: more than half of the rural population were serfs who were owned
by nobles. Most of the rest were state peasants. However, the sheer size of the country and its huge armies
accounted for its power. The Tsar ruled autocratically, that is he made all decisions without reference to
government.
Tsar Alexander had personally led Russia in the war against Napoleon and had
then been the first to reach Paris in March 1814. He was a powerful figure at
the Congress of Vienna, but the other powers were never quite certain of his
intentions. Alexander seemed to be torn between conservatism and liberalism.
Although he was an autocratic ruler, he was attended by a group of liberal
advisers. He was also deeply religious and his views were liable to be
influenced by a mystic called Madame Krudener. Finally, it was known that
Russia was keen to expand into south-east Asia, at the expense of Turkey. This
explains why, in the early stages of the talks, Alexander I had little time for the
‘balance of power’ idea. Instead, he favoured a Polish state under Russian
control, which would provide greater security for Poland. Moreover, he wanted
a divided Germany that would pose no threat to Russia as well as Prussian
control of Saxony, which would keep it away from Poland.
autocratic ruling with
complete power
liable to likely to
(adapted from: Derrick Murphy (ed.): Europe 1760-1871. London (Collins Educational), pp.
147f)
Focus on key personalities: Tsar Alexander I of Russia (1777 – 1825)
Tsar Alexander I was Emperor of Russia from 1801 to 1825. After the Congress of Vienna, he
was the first Russian King of Poland from 1815 to 1825.
He was the grandson of Empress Catherine the Great. After his father, Tsar Paul, had been
strangled by a group of officers in an 1801 palace revolution, he succeeded to the throne and
was confronted with the difficult task to rule Russia during the period of the Napoleonic Wars.
Whereas in the first half of his reign he introduced liberal reforms, his rule turned into a more
arbitrary one in the second half, thus revoking many liberal reforms again.
Due to his difficult nature, some historians have labelled Alexander I the “enigmatic tsar” or the
“sphinx”. He was brought up according to the principles of the Enlightenment, however, reality in
St Petersburg and political intrigues at the Russian court harshly contrasted with the values and
ideas he had been taught.
Whereas first suffering severe defeats against Napoleon, Alexander I managed to drive out the
French from Russia in 1812 and even went further, practically chasing them back to France and
capturing Paris. Still this victorious march through Europe had a profound effect on Alexander
since he turned to mysticism and religion as guiding principles for restoring peace and order in
Russia and Europe. This also explains his being the key to the formation of the Holy Alliance, a
union of Christian monarchs dedicated to preserving the general peace and the legitimacy of the
ruling monarchs against revolutionary uprisings.
Upon his sudden death in 1825, just before his 48th birthday, he was succeeded by his brother
Nicholas, since his marriage had produced only one daughter who had died in infancy.
[http://de.academic.ru/pictures/dewiki
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79ed40.PNG; 3/6/11]
Q1 Ge bi (Fb)
The idea of a nation-state and nationalism
CASE STUDY: What were the attitudes and interests of the main statesmen at
the Congress of Vienna?
Target task
Prepare a (panel) discussion taking place in the early stages of the talks at the Congress
of Vienna. Split into groups. Each group deals with one of the main participating statesmen
and prepares to put forward his demands, taking into account the knowledge you’ve
gained so far as well. Remember that although you want to push through your wishes, you
might also have to make compromises. So major issues to be discussed will be the
following:
1. How is France to be controlled?
2. How can a balance of power in Europe be created? Should there be a balance of
power at all?
3. What to do with the territory conquered by Napoleon?
Group 4: France
Representative: Charles Talleyrand-Périgord (1754-1838)
In 1815, France had a population of about 29 million, of which roughly 75% were living in rural areas.
Though France was still primarily agricultural, there was some industrial growth, especially in the north.
Additionally, it had a powerful army and must be seen as Britain’s main rival at sea. From 1815 onwards,
France was a constitutional monarchy, although the newly reinstated Bourbon king retained a good deal of
power, and the right to vote was very limited. In spite of being defeated in 1815, France was still regarded
as a powerful nation.
Talleyrand represented the defeated France, on behalf of the newly restored
Bourbon monarch Louis XVIII. Crippled as a child, he had entered the Church,
becoming a bishop in 1789. However, he had still supported the Revolution and
worked for the French Republic in the 1790s, and for Napoleon until 1807. Then
he had schemed for the restoration of the Bourbons and was chief negotiator
with the allies in Louis XVIII’s cause. His position at the Vienna Congress was
not easy, but he was ready to exploit any differences of opinion between the
other nations in order to assert French power. He was careful to stress that he
spoke for the restored Bourbon monarchy and not the defeated Napoleon.
Talleyrand favoured legitimacy, that is the right of a ruler to hold power by strict
hereditary law, as well as restrictions on Prussian expansion, so that Prussia did
not pose a direct threat to France. In general he aimed at asserting France’s claim
to be regarded as a major power.
to scheme [
to plan
]
(adapted from: Derrick Murphy (ed.): Europe 1760-1871. London (Collins Educational), pp. 147,
149.)
Focus on key personalities: Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754 – 1838)
As a diplomat, Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord worked as the French
chief negotiator at the Congress of Vienna. In that office, he fought for a lenient
treatment of France after Napoleon’s defeat.
Since the map of Europe had to be reorganized, Talleyrand demanded a say in
the decision-making progress. Here, he managed that France could return to the
boundaries it had in 1792 without having to pay any reparations to the other
European powers. In September 1815, Talleyrand resigned from his office and
took over the role of a political critic.
From 1830 to 1834 he was ambassador to the United Kingdom and fought for the
legitimacy of King Louis-Philippe’s regime, who came to power during the July
Revolution in 1830.
He died on May 17, 1838.
[http://napoleonbonaparte.files.wordp
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Q1 Ge bi (Fb)
The idea of a nation-state and nationalism
CASE STUDY: What were the attitudes and interests of the main statesmen at
the Congress of Vienna?
Target task
Prepare a (panel) discussion taking place in the early stages of the talks at the Congress
of Vienna. Split into groups. Each group deals with one of the main participating statesmen
and prepares to put forward his demands, taking into account the knowledge you’ve
gained so far as well. Remember that although you want to push through your wishes, you
might also have to make compromises. So major issues to be discussed will be the
following:
1. How is France to be controlled?
2. How can a balance of power in Europe be created? Should there be a balance of
power at all?
3. What to do with the territory conquered by Napoleon?
Group 5: Austria
Representative: Prince Klemens von Metternich (1773-1859)
In 1815, Austria had a population of about 25 million, of which roughly 80% were living in rural areas. After
Russia, Austria must be considered as the second largest state at that time. Though still largely agricultural,
there was a tremendous industrial growth in the Austrian-owned parts of Italy and in Bohemia. The war
years had led to a drain in army finances, which had left severe debts. It is crucial to mention that Austria
was a multi-ethnic Empire, meaning it was made up of many different races and ethnicities. It was ruled
over by an absolute monarch, the Austrian Emperor.
Metternich was the Austrian Foreign Minister who presided over the
Congress, with his master Emperor Francis I. Although he was an extremely able
diplomat, his position was not an easy one. Austria itself was a large, unwieldy
central European Empire composed of many different nationalities. It felt
threatened by Russia to the east, France to the west and by the ambitions of its
peoples from within. It is no wonder, therefore, that much of Metternich’s
attention at the Congress was taken up in minimizing the spread of liberal and
nationalist ideas and working for a balance of power. Metternich thus favoured a
strong central Europe – under the influence of Austria – to balance Russia and
France, and restraining Russian and Prussian ambitions. To add, he opted for the
continuance of monarchical government and aristocratic leadership.
to preside over to lead
unwieldy [
hard to handle
]
(adapted from: Derrick Murphy (ed.): Europe 1760-1871. London (Collins Educational), pp. 147149)
Focus on key personalities: Klemens Wenzel Nepomuk Lothar von MetternichWinneburg (1773-1859)
Metternich was born into an aristocratic family in Coblenz, Germany. By the time of his birth, his
father was involved in the service of the Habsburgs of Austria.
His family had to flee from the French revolutionary armies in 1794 and thus moved to Vienna,
the capital of the Austrian Habsburgs, where he served as the Habsburgs’ ambassador to
Saxony, Prussia and Napoleonic France.
In 1809 Metternich was appointed minister of foreign affairs and as such constantly worked to
undermine and erode Napoleon’s power. In order to lose neither Russian nor French support,
Metternich had to handle diplomacy in a careful way. After Napoleon’s failed Russian campaign,
Austria sided with Russia and Prussia against Napoleon. Two days after the Battle of the
Nations, Metternich was invested as a hereditary prince of the Austrian Empire.
In 1814/15 he presided over the Congress of Vienna which owed its final outcome mainly to
Metternich’s skilful diplomacy, as the former allies present disagreed strongly over the reorganization of Europe after the Napoleonic Wars.
Metternich resented liberalism, nationalism and revolution but was instead of the opinion that
lawful rulers would be better apt to create functioning and stable societies. In his view, monarchy
should share power with the traditionally privileged classes of society and he attempted to stifle
the revolutionary movements, for instance with the Carlsbad Decrees or the 6 and 10 Articles.
This is why to some, he is seen as the epitome of reaction and a suppressor of liberty.
The March Revolutions in Vienna in 1848 forced Metternich to resign and to go into exile to
England. He returned to mainland Europe 18 months later but returned to Vienna as late as
1851, where he died in 1859.
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Q1 Ge bi (Fb)
The idea of a nation-state and nationalism