Napoleonic Wars Peace Settlement

Napoleonic Wars Peace Settlement

• The Quadruple Alliance (Russia, Prussia, Austria, and Great Britain) defeated France in 1814.
• The Congress of Vienna was convened to create a general peace settlement.
• The first Treaty of Paris restored France's 1792 boundaries and didn't require reparations.
• The Quadruple Alliance treated France leniently but strengthened defensive measures with the Low Countries.
• Metternich and Castlereagh (Austria and Great Britain, respectively) aimed for a balance of power.
• Talleyrand (France) was also a key negotiator.
• Territorial adjustments were made favoring the victorious powers, like Britain, and Prussia and Russia.
• France was defeated at Waterloo in 1815, resulting in the second Treaty of Paris.
• The second treaty required France to pay an indemnity and support an army of occupation for five years.
• The Congress system continued for years aiming for stable peace.

Metternich and Conservatism

• Metternich (Austria) was influential in the Congress of Vienna, a crucial figure in European conservatism.
• He believed in authoritarian governments to prevent social unrest.
• He aimed to maintain European stability by preventing any single nation from becoming too powerful.
• Metternich was opposed to liberalism and nationalism.
• He believed in preserving the established order of Europe.

Repressing Revolutionary Spirit

• The Holy Alliance (Russia, Prussia, and Austria) was formed to repress reformist and revolutionary movements.
• 1820 saw revolutions in Spain and southern Italy that forced monarchs to accept constitutional governments.
• Metternich and others pressed for continued authoritarianism
• There were various rebellions to enforce conservatism and order.
• The 1819 Karlsbad Decrees restricted reform in the German states.
• Russian suppression of liberal uprisings further solidified Europe's conservative order.

Liberalism and the Middle Class

• Liberalism emphasized liberty, equality, and representative government.
• Liberals opposed autocratic monarchy.
• They advocated for legal equality and individual freedoms.
• Liberal economic principles, such as laissez-faire, advocated for free trade and unrestricted private enterprise.
• Liberals prioritized individual rights over community needs and aristocratic privileges.
• Some liberals favored limited suffrage restricted to property owners/middle class.

Rise of Nationalism

• Nationalism emphasized unity through shared language, history, and culture.
• Nationalism was fueled by opposition to foreign rule and a desire for self-determination.
• Nationalism sometimes clashed with the established political boundaries which caused disruptions and tension.
• Nationalism fostered a sense of shared identity and belonging, encouraging people to embrace their national heritage.
• Nationalism could lead to conflicts based on competing national aspirations.

Romantic Movement

• Romanticism opposed the Enlightenment's emphasis on rationality, order, and restraint.
• Romantics valued emotion, imagination, and spontaneity in art and life.
• They focused on individualism, intuition, and the natural world.
• The Romantic movement produced influential works in literature and art.
• Romanticism was expressed in literature, music, art, and philosophy.

Socialist Thought

• Socialist thinkers advocated for economic equality and social change.
• Thinkers like Saint-Simon, Fourier, and Owen promoted social organization for the benefit of the poor.
• Utopian socialist visions included communal living and planned economies.
• Marx's "scientific" socialism viewed history through class struggle.
• Marx emphasized the exploitation of the proletariat by the bourgeoisie.
• Marx argued for a revolutionary overthrow of capitalism

Revolutions of 1848

• The revolutions of 1848 were a series of demonstrations and revolts across Europe.
• The revolutions were driven by various factors, including economic crises, nationalism, and liberalism.
• Some of the revolutions led to democratic reforms, but most ended with restored monarchies.
• France was a pivotal location for the 1848 revolution.
• Revolutions in various European locations, notably Austria and Prussia, were influenced by the French events.
• There were instances of workers uprisings and protests which sometimes resulted in class conflicts.
• There was a desire for greater political participation, including universal male suffrage, and a rejection of existing authorities.