Europe after NapoleonLiberalism, Conservatism, Romanticism and

Idealism

Theories of Society

Liberalism - freedom was of fundamental importance

essential that men should have the liberty to speak freely and to criticize openly any ideas and institutions

Romanticism - it was a characteristic that men sought a cause in which to affirm their belief

instincts and emotions were glorified

fondness for humility and interest in folklore

Theories Continued

Idealism - was a rejection of the rationalism and excessive dependence upon reason of the previous age

the ideas of the nature of truth, morality, or the existence God, could not be solved by logic but only by faith

Nationalism - it can be explained as being an emotional awareness of the common ties of language, customs, and race that are possessed by a people

It manifests itself when a people unite to promote a common political and cultural goals

Theories Continued

Conservatism - the force that defended stability and continuity

many in Europe believed in a strong monarchy, an established Church, and heredity rights

Aristocracy (education & upbringing) were the only ones qualified to govern and set the social and moral values of a society

Congress of Vienna was dominated by conservative statesmen, who were determined to return European society and politics to the way it has been before the French Revolution

Congress of Vienna

Balance of Power - prohibit any of the great powers from threatening the security of its neighbours

domestic security was to be preserved from the unsettling new ideologies of nationalism (Gr.11) and liberalism (Gr. 12)

The meeting was chaired by Prince Metternich of Austria

Struggle with Liberalism and Nationalism

1814 - Louis XVIII had granted a constitution

Recognized many of the changes produced by the Revolution

Two-house legislature with a limited franchise

1824 - Charles X (brother of Louis XVIII)

Revoked the Charter and restored some land to nobles

Louis-Philippe

Louis XVIII

Represented a compromise between Royalists and Republicans

He issued a constitutional charter (legal equality of French (male) citizens, reconciliation with the Church, abolition of feudalism and maintenance of Napoleonic Code

Buffer Zones

To contain future French expansion, strong states were established along its borders

Netherlands & Belgium (under the House of Orange)

Austria (northern Italy)

Prussia (left bank of the Rhine River)

Piedmont-Sardinia (Genoa, Nice, Savoy)

Concert of Europe

Congress of Vienna was the first attempt to establish some system of collective security

Metternich provided leadership in the establishment of the collective will

Reinforced through annual meetings

1818, Quadruple Alliance becomes Quintuple after France agreed to pay 700 million francs in reparation payments

Age of Metternich

The Hapsburg empire emerged in a much stronger position after the Napoleonic era

He imposed rigid control over the multinational empire (Germans, Czechs, Slovaks, Ukrainians, Poles, Serbs, Croats)

No criticism of government policy was allowed

No one could criticize foreign governments

Foreign news was censored (books too)

however, there is not much evidence to suggest that the system was very diligent

Charles X

France prospered from 1815 - 1826, but in 1827 the international economy became depressed and French goods were difficult to trade

1827 - 1829

Harvest failures compounded the problem (wine industry too)

only 30% of the population met the requirements for elections

he fled to England and Louis-Philippe (a Bourbon) was chosen as his replacement

changed the age to 30 and an elector to 25

Louis Philippe - bourgeois king

LP was unable to solve France’s growing social and economic problems

February Revolution (1848)

more democratic system of government demanded

protest against the corruption of LP regime

resistance of Catholics against anticlericalism (opposed the influence of the church)

socialist philosophy of amongst the proletariat (Marx)

Napoleon III

born to Napoleon I’s brother (king of Holland)

tried to take over from LP (1836, 1840)

promised order and stability

proclaimed the Second Republic of France