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# Europa in the 19th Century after the Congress of Vienna: 1814-1848 The victory of the anti-Napoleonic coalition was followed by a series of events between 1814 and 1815, including the Congress of Vienna. The Congress of Vienna restored the borders of Europe to those that existed before the French...

# Europa in the 19th Century after the Congress of Vienna: 1814-1848 The victory of the anti-Napoleonic coalition was followed by a series of events between 1814 and 1815, including the Congress of Vienna. The Congress of Vienna restored the borders of Europe to those that existed before the French Revolution and re-established the absolute monarchies that had been overthrown by the French armies. At the same time, the Holy Alliance was established. This was an absolute alliance between Prussia, Austria, and Russia, designed to crush any revolutionary outbursts in Europe. However, the message of the French Revolution had spread amongst the European bourgeoisie - business owners, merchants, intellectuals, and other wealthy individuals. These groups saw liberalism as the ideal political system, believing it could best defend their interests. France once again became a hotbed for revolutions that would overthrow the absolute monarchs. These revolutions would spread out across the continent. The French Bourgeoisie, by 1830, had effectively ended absolutism in France and established a constitutional monarchy. This monarchy was characterized by a system of limited suffrage, that meant that the wealthy and powerful held the most influence. Across Europe, the middle and working classes had been pushed out of political participation following the defeat of Napoleon and their influence diminished further by the political actions of the Bourgeoisie. The lower classes reacted in their own way, demanding the right to strike, shorter work days, and universal suffrage, which led to the emergence of both democratic and socialist parties. They were poised to challenge the bourgeoisie, whose power was based on control of capital. A democratic revolution swept through Europe in 1848. This revolution came about as a result of a powerful dissatisfaction by the people with the state of the economy. Europe had been experiencing a period of economic hardship, characterized by poor harvests, unemployment, and famine. Initially, the people’s uprising was successful in many parts of Europe, but the Bourgeoisie eventually turned the tide in their favour. They used the military to suppress the revolution and restore a moderate version of liberalism. Despite setbacks and disappointments, the populace was relentless in its efforts to change the political landscape of Europe. They gradually and continuously began to win concessions from the ruling class. One of the key successes of their movement was the establishment of democratic constitutions that enshrined the rights of all citizens, including the right to universal suffrage, allowing all adult men the right to vote.