THE congress of vienna
By: Bishrab Sen
CONSERVATIVE VIEWS:
- Conservative leaders became wary that nationalism would lead to revolution, which would lesson their hold on power
- The leaders of the global hegemony of Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia met as the Congress of Vienna
- Under the direction of Prince Klemens von Metternich, the Congress returned power back to the European royal families, in an attempt to cut off any possibility of an ambitious visionary's endeavors to establish another empire, just as Napoleon had once did
- The main reason for the Congress was to undo the effects of the French Revolution and Napoleon's rule
an educational video regarding the congress of vienna
DIPLOMATIC POLICIES:
- The idea of a balance of powers has been an enduring idea of European History, which we see being reinforced time and time again.
- Power balance had to be implemented again, in order to deter the idea of popular sovereignty and to prevent one country from becoming to powerful.
EFFECT:
- The Vienna Congress could not suppress nationalistic views and the idea of popular sovereignty
- Eventually even Britain, France, and Russia took part in granting Greek independence from the Ottomans, in the Balkan region
- Calls for constitutional governments that were based on popular sovereignty were heard throughout Europe in Austria, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and even German principalities
- The balance of power established by the Congress of Vienna also broke apart due to the onset of World War I in 1914