Discussion  Which countries do you think had the

strongest influence during the discussion about national borders at the Congress of Vienna? Explain your answer.

The countries that had important roles in defeating Napoleon, such as Britain, Russia, Prussia, and Austria

Post-Napoleonic Europe

The Congress of Vienna: After the fall of Napoleon, representatives of the victorious powers met at the Congress of Vienna, intent on restoring the old European order. Led by Prince Klemens von Metternich of Austria, they wanted to assert a principle of legitimacy by restoring the royal families who had ruled before Napoleon.

Balance of power and conservatism: The representatives at the Congress of Vienna redrew territorial boundaries to create a balance of power in Europe, so that no country would again be able to dominate the others. Metternich and many other leaders believed in the philosophy of conservatism, based on a respect for tradition, social stability, obedience to authority, and organized religion.

Principle of intervention: The great powers, except for Britain, adopted a "principle of intervention," asserting their right to use military force to oppose revolutions and restore what they considered to be legitimate monarchs in countries where governments had been overthrown.

Discussion 

What was the idea behind the "balance of power" concept in European diplomacy?

The great powers sought to prevent any one nation from dominating the other nations and thus ensure stability in Europe by preserving the status quo.

Background  The delegates at the Congress of Vienna included

some of the most famous heads of state and diplomatic leaders of the time. Along with Prince Klemens von Metternich of Austria were Czar Alexander I of Russia and King Frederick William III of Prussia. Viscount Castlereagh represented Britain, replaced later by the Duke of Wellington. King Louis XVIII sent Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand, a French statesman who had served in government during the French Revolution, under Napoleon, and during the restoration of the monarchy. Though the five great powers led the discussions, heads of state and diplomats from throughout Europe also attended. Each delegation brought with them court advisers, secretaries, and family members—all of whom were entertained by their Austrian hosts and treated to the glittering social life of Vienna.

Forces of Change

Liberalism: Opposed to conservatism was liberalism, a philosophy that grew out of the Enlightenment and held that people should be largely free from government restraint. Liberals favored the protection of civil liberties, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and the press; religious toleration; the right of peaceful opposition to governments; and representative legislatures.

Nationalism: Another powerful force at the time was nationalism—people's sense of unity with others sharing their language, institutions, and customs. The belief arose that each nationality should have its own government, and this belief was supported by liberals.

Discussion  How are the modern-day usages

of conservatism, liberalism, and nationalism similar to the usages of the terms in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Europe? In what ways are they different?

Modern liberalism and conservatism both support universal suffrage, a constitution, and a legislative branch; modern conservatism does not support a king; neither term is associated with class structure; modern nationalism can lead to the division of a country rather than its unification.