Back Where They Started Part 3: Different Wants and Needs

 Hey guys! Today we are going to continue to talk about what was discussed in the Congress of Vienna and the dynamics of the group.

If you were here last week then you know we ended the blog talking about the new political map of Europe established by the congress of Vienna.

The Conservatives within the group wanted to restore the past monarchies. In which they mostly did. Yet, the power each nation gave to their monarchs differed from nation to nation. For instance, the Enlightenment desire to restrict the power of monarchs could not be stopped in Britain and France. In these nations, Constitutional monarchies were formed. This meant the monarchs had to share power with legislative leaders and were limited in power by constitutions. Austria, Prussia, Russia, and others took a conservative approach and restored absolute monarchs. While Britain and France took a more liberal route, all nations recognized the monarchs of each area as authentic and deserving of power, a practice called legitimacy.

Austria, Prussia, had taken a conservative route with absolute monarchs. They formed a group called the Holy Alliance. This group championed a Christian religious identity and the old system of absolute monarchs. While Britain and France had taken a more liberal path by establishing Constitutional Monarchies, all nations faced the risk of revolutions rising up again. To protect themselves from future tint Cancer of Europe was formed between the nations that had various monarchies. They asserted that, if revolution broke out again, in any area, they would unite to crush the rebellion.

In the absence of Napoleon, the brother of King Louis the 16th, Louis the 18th, took control of France. Yet, many feared this would usher in the old institutions that were challenged by the Enlightenment, such as absolute monarchies. Napoleon utilized this opportunity to assert he wanted to remove the monarchy from France to continue the French Revolution. He returned and took power declaring himself to be emperor. The members of the Congress of Vienna pledged to stop Napoleon and refused to allow him to regain power.

Furious that he had escaped his exile, Britain launched an invasion of mainland Europe. At a village in Belgium called Waterloo, they attacked Napoleon’s forces. At the Battle of Waterloo, in 1815, to help Britain, the Prussians also invaded. Napoleon was eventually defeated and had to give up power. Once again, Napoleon was exiled, this time to St. Helena in the Atlantic Ocean. His rule had brought with it the deaths of millions and horrific wars that plagued the European people. He died in exile and never again was able to gain power in Europe.

That’s it for today guys… See you next time!!!!