The Congress of Vienna The Congress of Vienna

The Congress of Vienna

The Congress of Vienna • A series of meetings of European heads of government to establish long-lasting peace and stability on the continent after the defeat of Napoleon • Set up policies to ensure peace

The Great Powers • Russia, Prussia, Austria, Great Britain, and France • Klemens von Metternich- foreign minister from Austria – Most influential representative

Klemens von Metternich • Three goals at the Congress of Vienna – 1) Containment of France- Prevent future French aggression by surrounding France with stronger countries – 2) Restore a balance of power so that no country would be a threat to others – 3) Legitimacy- Restore Europe’s royal families to the thrones they had held before Napoleon

Success of the Congress of Vienna • First time the nations of an entire continent had cooperated to control political affairs • It did not sow the seeds of future wars because it was fair to all nations involved • Ensured a balance of power • None of the five great powers waged war on one another for nearly 40 years

Impact of the French Revolution • Several nations worried that this would encourage their people to start revolutions • Holy Alliance- Austria, Prussia, and Russia pledged to base their relations with other nations on Christian principles in order to combat the forces of revolution • Concert of Europe- Ensured that nations would help one another if any revolutions broke out

Legacy • Congress of Vienna would influence world politics for the next 100 years • Nationalism began to spread throughout Europe • French Revolution forever changed ideas about the basis of power and authority – More and more, people saw democracy as the best way to ensure equality and justice for all