Ib 2010.Notebook September 07, 2009
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ib 2010.notebook September 07, 2009 A. 1)Restauration, of the political situation of 1792. THE POLITICAL PRINCIPLES OF THE CONGRESS: Both Russia and Britain shared the common wish to settle the problems of Though the Vienna settlement was a compromise between the rival aims Europe as a whole other states (especially France and Austria) could and and ambitions of the great powers, there was also a considerable degree of did benefit from this. general agreement at the congress about its purpose and the principles by Metternichs idea to reach a balance of powers was in danger to collapse which this should be achieved. already before the congress while Russia wanted to annex Poland and The statesmen of the Great Powers (France included) wanted a settlement Prussia Saxony. As a result of Metternich's mediation (1813), and esp. which would provide stability in Europe and prevent the outbreak of another under the impact of Napoleons return from Elba, the powers reached a general war. compromise. The balance of power between the 5 great powers was restored This benefited Austria The state would be in grave danger of collapse and in june 1815. disintegration without this The allies were ready to preserve and strengthen the Austrian empire. sep 719:53 sep 719:54 INTERNATIONAL PEACE would best be maintained if no state was in a The German confederation 39 states (38 + Austria). The purpose was to position to threaten the independence of the rest A rule to guide the prevent the smaller states falling under French influence. Although Austria decisions made in Vienna. (Important when decisions upon territorial received quite a lot of influence (Metternich's objective) it was bound to be settlements were made, for example both Austria and France accepted the rivalled by Prussia. settlements in Germany and Italy, though they both had interests there) The statesmen of Vienna thought that revolutions comes from wars not viceversa. sep 719:56 sep 719:58 1 ib 2010.notebook September 07, 2009 2) Legitimacy justification of the dynastic claims of the old rulers 3) Solidarity, common policies of the legitimate princes against the actually Talleyrands idea to justify the claims of the Ancien Régime. revolutionary ideas and movements. FRANCE When Napoleons defeat was obvious Foreign minister Talleyrand managed The HOLY ALLIANCE was used by Metternich as an effective weapon to to restore the old monarchial rule in France and got the acceptance by the enforce his conservative policies. allied leaders the restauration of the Bourbons. The First Both Britain and Austria feared an extension of Russian influence (Austria Treaty of Paris (may 1814) was lenient because the alliance didn't want to in Balkan and the german states, Britain maritime and colonial powers, a make it difficult for the new monarchy. Russian challenge to the Brittish commands of the seas). The principle of Legitimacy was never of supreme importance in making of THE QUADRUPLE ALLIANCE Uphold the settlement with France, prevent the settlement. Frontiers were redrawn and previously independent states the return of Napoleon and maintain the army of occupation. extinguished in defiance of it The principle of Legitimacy was definetely This included the idea of possible meetings to settle international questions subordinate to the more important principle of the balance of power. quickly and peacefully. sep 720:00 sep 720:04 BRITAIN B. The principle was to establish peace in Europe a peaceful, settled Europe NATIONAL INTERESTS from whom Britain didn't have to fear no threat. Britain wanted to maintain B.1. Before the Congress in Vienna her naval supremacy and had no wish to extend her land frontiers in AUSTRIA Europe. In 1813 Metternich proposed a deal to Napoleon; Austria could join France Britain introduced the idea to abolish slave trade at the Congress (The in a military alliance if Austria would get full supremacy in Germany and government had to take account of opinion at home) no final settlement Italy no deal but definitely shows that Austria had great national on this issue. interests. When Metternich realized that there was nothing to gain from an alliance with France, Austria joined the European coalition against France. sep 720:06 sep 720:08 2 ib 2010.notebook September 07, 2009 PRUSSIA B.2. The Congress of Vienna The first treaty of Paris (1814) was replaced by the Second Treaty of Paris Though we discuss in terms of THE FOUR GREAT victorious Powers RUSSIA in november 1815 (after the comeback of Napoleon) and eventhough this and BRITAIN were foremost among these powers. They had played the most was harsher it still was a very lenient peace for France (France lost some important part in defeating Napoleon and were now each in their own way, territory along the border (Savoy, Nice to Piedmont and Saar to Prussia) but in an outstanding position at the Congress. not for example AlsacLorraine to Prussia Russia and Britain resisted this RUSSIA was the decisive military power on the continent with an army of (balance of power). almost one million men in 1815. BRITAIN hadn't been defeated and now emerged with her superiority in industrial development, worldwide trade and naval strength increased. Both Russia and Britain shared the common wish to settle the problems of Europe as a whole other states (especially France and Austria) could and did benefit from this. Through the Treaty of Vienna (1815) Britain and Russia achieved the aims they desired, while Prussia and Austria were dependent upon the wishes of the other two powers, who were not always in agreement. sep 720:12 sep 720:16 RUSSIA BRITAIN Tsar Alexander I had quite traditional and far stretching national objectives; During the wars, Britain had made considerable overseas gains colonies expansion towards the Balkan (competition with Austria) belonging to France, Spain and Holland. Castlereagh insisted that the expansion towards the Baltic (competition with Prussia) Congress should not concern itself with the question of overseas Poland (Austria, Prussia and Britain) Claimed the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, proposed that Prussia would be compensated for the loss of her polish territory by annexing the possessions and that it should be settled by a series of separate treaties whole of Saxony. Russian troops occupied both Poland and Saxony. Castlereagh and with the countries concerned. Metternich feared that this would undermine the balance of Power in Europe. Britain kept some profitable colonies and especially the colonies with Talleyrand saw his opportunity to benefit from the conflict, France was still the strategic value. strongest country (next to Russia) on the continent. France Britain Austria joined in a defensive Triple Alliance to oppose Russia. The threat forced Alexander I to Two of the territorial changes made on the continent were also desired by compromise = Prussia and Austria received some Polish territory. Prussia = 2/5 of Britain for strategic reasons. Saxony and Russia 'Congress Poland'. 1) The transfer of Norway (DenmarkSweden) The entry to the Baltic was no longer controlled by a single state. Russia kept the gains it had made during the wars Finland (Sweden) and Bessarabia (Turkey) 2) The union of Holland and Belgium into a united kingdom The mouths of the rivers Rhine and Scheldt in the possession of a neutral state. (Britain also assissted the Dutch government in fortifying the frontier with France.) sep 720:40 sep 720:44 3 ib 2010.notebook September 07, 2009 PRUSSIA AUSTRIA Minister, Prince Hardenberg wanted Prussia to regain the power and While it was quite obvious that Austria couldn't gain any real predominance prestige she had lost through her defeat by Napoleon. Weak position and in Germany Metternich looked instead for the creation of Austrian power could only hope to benefit from the possible disagreements between the over the several states in Italy tried to persuade the other powers that other powers. peace and good government in the peninsula needed this. Though Prussia didn't receive the whole of Saxony (2/5) it was Prussia that Fear of a renewal of French influence in Italy lad the allies to support made the relatively the greatest territorial and economic gains. The Metternich's wish to gain compensation for Austria's inferiority (lägre territory in Saxony was rich and industrial. Prussia also recovered her ställning) in Germany and loss of the Netherlands by restoring and territory in the Rhineland, to prevent France extending her influence into strengthening her position in the peninsula. Northern Italy was placed western Germany. When Prussia also received Swedish Pomerania the under her direct rule (Lombardia, Venetia). Austria also asserted indirect Prussian state emerged a much greater European power than ever before. control of central Italy. sep 720:44 sep 720:47 FRANCE The Pol.Saxon question led to the brink of war in the beginning of the Especially opposed the strengthening of Prussia on her eastern frontier and congress. As a result of Metternich's mediation (and the threat from cooperated with Metternich to achieve this objective. Napoleon) the balance of power between the 5 great powers was restored. To Britain small colonial gains from France to prevent any further attempts at overseas expansion. Territorial arrangements upon her frontiers to prevent any aggression in Europe. sep 720:48 sep 720:50 4 ib 2010.notebook September 07, 2009 THE CONGRESS SYSTEM 1818Congress of AixlaChapelle The first congress settled the issues of payment of the indemnity and withdrawal of the army of occupation from France. France was admitted to the conferences on an Metternich and Alexander I attempted to establish cooperation between the equal basis as the country had become tranquil and stable under the Bourbon great european powers on the basis of congresses to safeguard the monarchy.