Just Pick One!!!!

In our Honors History class last week, we learned about the Congress of Vienna.  In class, we took what we knew from Napoleon in our last unit and we learned about Klemens Von Metternich who was the ruler of Austria.  War was breaking out all over Europe and relations between Austria and France were shaky.  Napoleon was seeking peace and while Metternich agreed, both he and Napoleon implied if necessary, war will occur.  We watched a reenacted video on that agreement in class.  Now, remains from the Napoleonic war had left their marks.  It had happened all over Europe.  Now, in order to reestablish peace, Metternich called on the Congress of Vienna where rulers from the U.K., Russia, Prussia, and of course Austria came together and made a decision on how to create peace while power was being threatened. 

The Congress of Vienna was convened in 1814.  After the devastation from the Napoleonic wars and after his defeat, he returned from exile and resumption of power in France.  He reached Paris but before Napoleon was able to reach Paris, the Congress of Vienna declared him an outsider.  This would lead to the signing of the final act of the Congress of Vienna and Napoleon was defeated and captured finally at the battle of Waterloo.  Now, in the final act, the congress decided to declare the ideology of conservatism.  Metternich who was conservative originally wanted the tradition of old monarchs.  He wanted it to be the way it was before Napoleon came around with

Shown above is the new map of Europe. 

invasions and made all of the liberal reforms.  That was the way it ended up working out and it worked in his favor.  Now, the Congress of Vienna had many reasons of forming but one of the most important reasons was 'Balance of Power' and changes to the Map of Europe after Napoleon conquered.  This was the first real problem that was discussed.  Now, Napoleon conquered all around Europe and many original boundaries were changed.  Prussia which was small expanded and got Saxony, a Swedish branch, and the greater part of the reign land.  Russia secured Finland and the greater part of Poland.  They removed Bessarabia from Austria.  Austria received its old land back from the Satellite States.  The U.K. received no land on the mainland continent of Europe but they did receive some islands to ensure the continuance of their colonial policies.  It received Helgoland in the North Sea, as well as the island south of Italy and the Ionian Islands in the Mediterranean.  Sweden's attempt at Norway was confirmed at the expense of Denmark.  Denmark received the Dutch Islands of Holstein and Lauenburg.  France received its old borders.  However, buffer states were put in place to prevent more invasions from them.  To the north was the Netherlands along with Belgium and to the south was Piedmont Sa Demur which got the counties of Chambéry, Nice, and Genoa.  Italy and Germany were left partitioned despite the boundaries of the German Confederation.  Belgium and Norway were left to foreign rule.  The Ottoman Empire remained independent which included the Greeks, Romanians, Bulgars, and Serbs.  They reversed the changes of Napoleon's conquests, had him defeated and captured at Waterloo, and maintain non vindictive peace between the countries.

Now, there were many reasons as to why the decisions were made.  However, I could say that the decisions made could be a little different.  Now, in Metternich's regard, I am completely in favor of France's and Austria's old borders being restored.  I also support Austria getting their old land back.  However, I do not support Belgium and Norway being subjected to foreign rule because they are not satisfied.  The other problems involved how to avoid future revolutions.  Although they did make it a treason to start a revolution, that cannot necessarily be relied on.  I would've restored the boundaries before the revolution.  Belgians and Norwegians become independent countries.  The United Kingdom would not get the Dutch Islands.  That would be part of the Netherlands.  However, the acts of the Congress of Vienna did not prevent invasions due to the Italian uprising against Austria.  Austria proceeded to crush them.  Some great powers are too caught up in more land but don't realize the impacts of that.  However, the ideology allowed great powers to send troops in to stop revolutions if they occurred.  If by means the last necessary way to prevent war, then so be it.  In closing, I can agree that the Congress of Vienna created a Balance of Powers that created a new secure map yet didn't take every country into consideration.  I believe that the Congress of Vienna had good intentions but had some little poor execution.



Image Source:

"Congress of Vienna." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Oct. 2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congress_of_Vienna