Liberalism and the Congress of Vienna and Conservatism

13 September 2004 (Lecture #08)

 

Congress of Vienna

  • Representatives from all of Europe joined to decide what would happen in the aftermath of Napoleon
  • Four major powers: Austria, Great Britain, Prussia, Russia
  • Goals: legitimacy (place territory in the hands of traditional rulers); stability (est. balance of power for a lasting peace)
  • France let off lightly – territory reduced to 1789 boundaries, fined 700M francs, and ordered to return stolen art
  • Europe had no more major conflicts until WWI 100 years later

 

The Concert of Europe: Securing the Vienna Settlement

  • Holy Alliance – conservative alliance b/w Austria, Prussia, and Russia
  • Concert of Europe – effective conservative alliances b/w the above and Great Britain; France joins after paying indemnities

 

Liberalism: Individual Freedom and Political Freedom

  • Thought government’s powers should be separated by checks and balances – for the people
  • Middle class supported because they wanted freedom, equality, and representation
  • Economists thought the government should practice laissez-faire (hands-off) business

 

Nationalism: A Common Identity and National Liberation

  • Harbored a spirit of optimism and promised to unify nations, liberate subjects, and create a brotherhood of nations

 

Romanticism: Freedom, Instinct, and Spontaneity

  • Emphasized freedom and spontaneity; said humans were complex, emotional, and only sometimes rational
  • German “storm and stress” literature influenced the rise of romanticism

 

Restoration and Repression

  • After Napoleon’s defeat, conservatism held power over Europe through the Vienna agreements
  • Louis XVIII ruled with conservatism – made it harder to vote, but kept Napoleonic rules and an elite legislature
  • Charles X paid nobles for lost land, gave the church more say, and dissolved the House (all unpopular changes)
  • German states consisted of Austria, Prussia, and 37 little states under a very weak German Confederation
    • Prussia forms a trade agreement which opens borders to free trade between German states (all join but Austria)
  • Italian restoration: ruled directly or indirectly by Austria; only a geographic expression (“Italy”)
  • Russian Conservatism – Alexander I was tolerant but changed under Austrian influence
  • Great Britain – had a representative gov but only represented a small portion of the population

 

A Wave of Revolution and Reform

  • Greece earns independence with help from UK, France, and Russia (motivated by profit more than anything else)
  • France overthrows Charles X in 1830 (his oppression only stiffened liberals)
  • Liberal uprisings in Poland (Russia secures, 1000s to Siberia) and Italy (Austria crushes but groups remain active)
  • Liberalism in the UK
    • They pass the Reform Act of 1932 which increases male suffrage
    • Slavery abolished in 1807 after France’s defeat
    • Economic and social reform – hands-off approach; Corn Laws repealed (lowered bread price)

 

The Glory Days in 1948

  • France, Austria, Prussia, and Germany – rebellions, reforms
  • Conservatives had returned to power for three reasons
    • Alliances among the middle-class was only against the status quo, and not anything more
    • The alliance of nationalism and liberalism conflicted once in power (different views)
    • Conservatives were still strong and were able to eventually muster their armies to crush divided liberals

 

Political Confession of Faith by Metternich

  • 1st Principle – maintain stability
  • Commoners should see the benefits of their tax money

 

Conclusions

  • Liberal ideas from Enlightenment gained momentum – hard to take rights back
  • Conservative elites bmaintain control for now as liberals seen as the cause for war