The Congress of Vienna

Global Studies 10
February 10, 1997
The Congress of Vienna
This essay is about the effects of the French Revolution on Europe, the Congress of Vienna, and its goals. It will tell about the role of Nationalism, Liberalism, and conservatism in this time period. Also it will tell of the European's revolutions between 1830 and 1848.
The Congress of Vienna's main goals were to bring an end to the Napoleonic wars and restore peace in Europe. There were two opposing political philosophies that greatly influenced events in the 1800's. They were Liberalism and conservatism. Leberalism is a philosophy that supports guarantees for individual freedom, political change, and social reform. At the time of the Congress of Vienna, Liberals supported the ideas of the Enlightenment and the French Revolution.
Conservatism is a philosophy that doesn't want change that would threaten that way of life. It supports the traditional political and social order. Conservatives didn't want nationalism because they thought that it would overthrow the traditional political order.
The role of Nationalism is that during the Nineteenth century it had begun the urge to form a nation. Liberalism supported nationalism at that time because it united people in a common cause. On the other hand, Conservatives feared nationalism because of its threat to overthrow the traditional political order.
The goals of the Congress of Vienna were the Balance of Power, which meant no nation would be too strong or too weak. Another goal was the Return of Monarchs. Louis XVIII issued a constitution to return. The Congress of Vienna wanted to redraw borders. The leaders payed little attention to the people when redrawing Europe. The Prince Metternich system was a system that made absolute rule return. Four nations agreed to act as the "Fire department" of Europe, this was known as the Quad Alliance. The Holy Alliance said that nations would let God guide their relations.
In conclusion to this essay, there are and were many different types of people with different beliefs. Because everyone doesn't have the same beliefs, people disagree and fight. If everyone had the same thoughts on things, no one would fight or disagree with each other.