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AP European History · Unit 5: Conflict, Crisis & Reaction (Late 1700s)

5.7 Congress of Vienna

Purpose of the Congress

After Napoleon's defeat, European powers met in 1814-1815 at the Congress of Vienna to restore stability. Led by Austrian minister Metternich, along with Britain, Russia, and Prussia, the goals were to prevent future French aggression, restore balance of power, and reverse revolutionary changes through conservative principles.

Key Principles: Legitimacy & Balance of Power

Legitimacy meant restoring former royal dynasties to their thrones (e.g., Bourbon restoration in France) to reject revolutionary rule. Balance of power aimed to prevent any single nation from dominating Europe, achieved by strengthening states surrounding France, like enlarging the Netherlands and Prussia, and creating the German Confederation.

Conservative Order & Long-term Impact

The Congress created a conservative order that suppressed nationalism and liberalism, fearing they caused revolutionary chaos. The Concert of Europe followed, with powers meeting periodically to maintain this order and intervene against revolutions. This system preserved relative peace in Europe for decades, though it couldn't permanently suppress rising nationalist and liberal movements.

Key terms

Congress of Vienna
1814-1815 meeting of European powers after Napoleon's defeat to restore stability and redraw European borders.
Metternich
Austrian foreign minister who led the Congress of Vienna and championed conservative principles.
Legitimacy (principle)
The idea of restoring former ruling dynasties to their thrones to reverse revolutionary changes.
Balance of power
Strategy to prevent any single nation (especially France) from dominating Europe by strengthening surrounding states.
Concert of Europe
System of periodic meetings among great powers after 1815 to maintain the conservative order and suppress revolutions.

Try an AP-style question

The Quadruple Alliance was formed to…

  1. divide Britain from Europe
  2. unite the Italian states
  3. prevent French aggression and revolution
  4. spread revolution across Europe
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C. Enforcement.

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