Download Coping with Change Ideology, Politics and Revolution 1815

Coping with
Change
Ideology, Politics and Revolution 1815- 1850
Isabey, The Congress of Vienna, 1815
The Congress of Vienna
Autumn 1814- gathering of victors (of the Napoleonic Wars) in Vienna
Goal: redraw the map of Europe, design a lasting peace
The most celebrated gathering of people in history- politicians, nobles,
monarchical representatives (and a Tsar), literary celebrities,
merchants and a partridge in a pear tree
The Victors
Great Britain- Lord Castlereagh
Prussia- Baron Hardenberg
Russia- Tsar Alexander I
Austria- Prince Metternich*
France- Talleyrand- what the...
The Principles
Never again Napoleon
Legitimacy- territories should once again be placed under the control of the old
ruling houses by traditional order (Bourbons, Habsburgs, Hohenzollerns)
Stability- maintaining a balance of power within Europe, with a focus on
restraining France and her ideas
Restrain ideas?
France
Lenient attitude toward France- the victors wished to turn France into
an ally
France escaped the congress with very minor penalties
Restoration of the Bourbons under Louis XVIII, return France to its
1789 boundaries and force them to pay reparations (due to Napoleon’s
escape from Elba and eventual 100 day war)
Territories
Europe was completely along tactical and traditional lines
Establishment of buffer states surrounding France, increased size of Prussia in the Western
part of Europe, Unification of Netherlands and Denmark, increase in size of Kingdom of
Piedmont and the old monarchy was restored in Spain
Holy Roman Empire was not returned but a new German Confederation of states was created,
ruled by Vienna
Colonies were given to Britain, Poland given to Russia (as well as Sweden and Finland)
Austria gained Lombardy and Venetia in Northern Italy
so if France was ever bad again...
What about the People?
little concern for the “people” of Europe
As you can see from the painting- the concerns were 2nd estate and upper 3rd estate
concerns
Minimal concessions towards liberty, hardly any concessions about equality and a pure
denial of the idea of fraternity- look at the map again
The Congress did produce a settlement that contributed to 100 years free from war,
slavery was abolished throughout...but more importantly Conservatism won the day
(more on this later)
Securing the Settlement
Metternich set up the political machinery
Europe must act in Concert to suppress and crush revolutionary ideas (ideas
like liberalism, socialism and nationalism)
Collective Security through alliances
Holy Alliance- Russia, Austria, Prussia- commitment to preserve the traditional
christian order- allowance to intervene on other states in order to maintain
peace
Securing the Settlement
Quadruple Alliance (Concert of Europe
Alliance)- Austria, Russia, Prussia and Britainhold meetings to discuss common problems
1818 France joined the alliance- all agreed to
provide military support if internal strife was
threatening the traditional order
The Congress Applied
1821 Kingdom of Naples (southern Italy)- insurrection against King Ferdinand I by liberal rebels
(wishing for a constitution and some loosening of their estate style system)
The Concert of Europe authorized Austria to send an army to quell the uprising in the Kingdomvery successful for Austria
1822- authorization for France to send troops to Spain to quell a rebellion
1822- authorization for Russia to send navy and troops to quell uprisings in Spain’s Latin
American colonies
Ideologies
Conservatism- restore the traditional order and way of life (pre- 1789)
Metternich’s profound belief in it and excellent diplomacy strengthened the conservative
movement as the most powerful and dominant ideology in all respects in Europe
Under the impact of the French Revolution and the industrial revolution, the centuries old
aristocratic order and agriculturally based society crumbled (especially in France)
In this climate intellectuals and average everyday people exerted immense influence as they
set out their goals and plans for how the world should be- Napoleon spread the enlightenment
and it took root everywhere
Ideologies
Conservatism- restoration of traditional order
Liberalism- individual freedom and political reform
Nationalism- Common identity and National Liberation
Romanticism- Freedom, instinct and spontaneity
Early Socialism- Ending Competition and inequities
Scientific Socialism- say hello to Marxism
The Post Vienna World
Conservative forces vs. all of the other ideologies
Restoration, reaction and repression- the historical
process takes shape
Under which the industrial revolution was drastically
changing people, their ideas and their powers
Wave of Revolution and Reform
1820- 1831- Constant European rebellions- mostly liberal/nationalist
France- Restoration of Louis XVIII- conservatism and moderation (retained the
Napoleonic Code- relaxed rule- the returning emigres were ultra royalist- they
wanted everything they had lost in the revolution)
Louis XVIII dies 1824- Charles X crowned- returned land to nobles lost during
the revolution, gave power of education back to the church, dissolved the
parliament body of France, abolished freedom of the press- Absolutism
returning?
Wave of Revolution and Reform
Germany- 37 German states under the control of Metternich and Austria
through the German confederation
Austrian Empire consisted of 35 different nationality/language groups- very
fearful of nationalism
Conservative repression- secret police, spies, censorship, and travel expenses
to support the status quo- Carlsbad Decrees- repression laws against German
students
Wave of Revolution and Reform
Italy- borders returned to pre 1796 states
“geographic expression”- most lands ruled by Austrian royals or French royals using Austrian soldiers
to solidify their power
Kingdom of PIedmont-Sardinia was the only independent Italian State- House of Savoy (very liberal for
a Royal Family)
Rome- Pope revived the inquisition, reconstituted the index of prohibited books and annulled all
Napoleonic religious toleration laws
Anything that was seen as liberal (street lighting, public school and road building) was stopped
Wave of Revolution and Reform
Russia- ultra conservatism- enjoyed by Upper and lower classes in Europe
Serfdom
Alexander I- championed autocracy and conservative traditional policies
Nicholas I- first day as Tsar in 1825 quelled the Decembrist rebellion (liberal military
officers wishing for a constitution)
Russia was the ultimate autocratic, disciplinary and conservative state (some would say
backward)
Wave of Revolution and Reform
Great Britain- Centuries of liberal representative policies were halted
5% of adult males could vote, noble families ruled the law making government bodies
Liberal riots only strengthened the resolve of the conservative order (Luddites, Peterloo
Massacre)
1801 Britain fully absorbed Ireland- Protestants now controlled Catholics- Ireland peasantry
suffered immensely (Genocide)
Irish Potato Famine (1845)
Wave of Revolution and Reform
War for Greek Independence (from the Ottoman Empire) 1821- 1829
1830 Revolutions across Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium and Russia
July 1830 Liberals joined with Workers in Paris and ousted Charles X (last Bourbon King)
Bourgeois Monarchy- King Louis- Philippe- called himself the citizen King, dressed in
western style suits- liberal property, economic and voting policies
1830- full on liberal revolts, almost every single one is quelled or concessions are given,
but only slightly
1848
The Dam Bursts...