5.8 Conservative Reaction, 1815–1848

The Congress of Vienna

After Napoleon's fall, European powers met at the Congress of Vienna (1814–1815), led by Austria's Metternich. Guided by principles of legitimacy (restoring old monarchies) and balance of power, they redrew borders to contain France and prevent future revolutions. This established a conservative order defending monarchy, aristocracy, and the church against liberal and nationalist threats.

Concert of Europe & repression

The Concert of Europe used alliances like the Quadruple Alliance and periodic congresses to suppress revolts and maintain conservative rule. In the German Confederation, Metternich's Carlsbad Decrees (1819) censored press and monitored universities to crush liberal, nationalist student movements, showing conservatives' fear of Enlightenment-inspired change.

Revolutions of 1830 and 1848

Despite repression, liberal and nationalist uprisings erupted. 1830: France's July Revolution replaced Charles X with the more liberal Louis-Philippe; Belgium won independence. 1848: widespread revolutions (France's Second Republic, uprisings in Austria, Prussia, Italian states) demanded constitutions and nationhood, but most were crushed, revealing conservatism's continued strength despite growing pressure for change.

Key terms

Congress of Vienna (1814–1815)

Meeting of European powers after Napoleon's defeat to restore monarchies and balance power, led by Metternich.

Principle of Legitimacy

Idea that hereditary monarchs should be restored to their thrones to ensure stability.

Carlsbad Decrees (1819)

Metternich-backed laws censoring press and monitoring universities in the German Confederation to suppress liberal/nationalist ideas.

July Revolution (1830)

French uprising replacing conservative Charles X with liberal constitutional monarch Louis-Philippe.

Revolutions of 1848

Widespread liberal and nationalist uprisings across Europe demanding constitutions and self-rule; most were ultimately crushed by conservative forces.

Try an AP-style question

Conservatism after 1815 emphasized…

1. universal suffrage for all adults
2. radical change and new republics
3. socialism and worker control
4. tradition, monarchy, and established churches