The Concert of Europe and European Conservatism Chapter Notes | History for Grade 9 PDF Download

Introduction

After Napoleon’s defeat in 1815, Europe’s monarchies sought to restore pre-revolutionary stability and suppress the liberal and nationalist ideas he had spread. This chapter notes examines the Congress of Vienna, the Concert of Europe, and the rise of conservatism as responses to Napoleon’s legacy. It also explores the challenges posed by emerging revolutionary movements that threatened the conservative order.

The Aftermath of Napoleon: A Return to Order

• Following Napoleon’s extensive conquests and transformative reforms, Europe’s traditional monarchies faced a critical juncture. His Napoleonic Code, liberal policies, and nationalist ideals had inspired widespread enthusiasm but also disrupted the established European order. 
• After his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and subsequent exile, conservative leaders acted swiftly to quell future rebellions and reinstate pre-revolutionary traditions.
• Conservatives viewed the Enlightenment and the French Revolution as having overreached, believing that human nature was inherently flawed and that rapid societal changes were perilous.

The Congress of Vienna: Undoing the Revolution

The Congress of Vienna (1814–1815) convened the Great Powers—Austria, Prussia, Russia, Britain, and post-Napoleonic France—under the leadership of Austria’s Prince Klemens von Metternich. Their objective was to restore the old monarchical order, contain French ambitions, and secure enduring peace in Europe.

Key Principles of the Congress

• Legitimacy: Reinstate rightful monarchs to their thrones across Europe.
• Balance of Power: Ensure no single nation, particularly France, could dominate the continent again.
• Containment of France: Bolster neighboring states to curb French aggression.

Poland was predominantly allocated to Russia, while Prussia gained territories in the west, such as the Rhineland. France was treated with relative leniency to prevent future grievances.

The Concert of Europe: Conservatism in Action

The Concert of Europe (1815–1848) was a diplomatic system established post-Congress to maintain the status quo and suppress revolutionary movements. It included the Quadruple Alliance of Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Britain, dedicated to upholding conservative principles.

The Principle of Intervention

• Proposed by Metternich, this policy permitted the Great Powers to use military force to crush revolutions in any European state.
• Britain opposed this principle, wary that it granted excessive authority to reactionary regimes and could incite conflicts.
• The Concert of Europe functioned through regular congresses and diplomatic gatherings, achieving relative peace in Europe for nearly a century, though underlying tensions and nationalist movements persisted.

Major Figures at the Congress of Vienna

The Rise of Conservatism

Conservatism emerged as a political philosophy in direct opposition to Enlightenment rationalism and revolutionary liberalism, prioritizing tradition, social hierarchy, monarchy, and religious authority.

Klemens von Metternich

• Austrian foreign minister and key architect of the post-Napoleonic conservative order.
• Viewed revolutions as products of Enlightenment hubris and idealism.
• Promoted robust monarchies, noble privileges, and the suppression of dissent.
• Orchestrated efforts to quell uprisings in Italy and the German states.

Edmund Burke

• Irish statesman and author of Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790).
• Criticized the abrupt, radical changes of the French Revolution.
• Advocated for gradual reforms grounded in tradition and historical experience.
• Emphasized society as a generational partnership, resistant to drastic restructuring.

Joseph de Maistre

• French conservative philosopher and staunch Catholic.
• Rejected Enlightenment secularism, defending the divine right of kings.
• Argued that monarchy and religion were vital for maintaining human order and stability.
• Supported authoritarian governance to prevent chaos and anarchy.

Conservatism and Religion: A Revival of Authority

• Alongside the rise of conservatism, religious authority experienced a resurgence. 
• During the Enlightenment, the Church had lost influence to secular and rationalist ideas. 
• Figures like de Maistre and Metternich championed the revival of religion’s role in politics and society.

The belief that “human nature is not perfectible” supported a return to moral and religious authority, asserting that divine guidance, not reason alone, was essential for social stability.

Challenges to the Conservative Order

• Despite the Concert of Europe’s apparent success, transformative forces persisted:
  • Nationalism and liberalism continued to grow beneath the surface.
  • Rebellions erupted in Spain, Greece, Italy, and Germany during the 1820s and 1830s.
  • By 1848, widespread revolutions shook Europe, threatening the foundations established by the Congress of Vienna.
• Conservatism may have postponed revolutionary change, but it could not halt the tide of transformation.

Conclusion

The period from 1815 to 1848 marked the zenith of European conservatism, characterized by monarchical restoration, religious revival, and resistance to liberalism. However, industrialization, nationalism, and democratic ideals were reshaping society beneath this conservative framework. While the Concert of Europe maintained peace for decades, its repressive policies often fueled the revolutionary movements it aimed to suppress.

Key Terms

• Alexander I: Russian Emperor from 1801 to 1825, instrumental in the Napoleonic Wars and the Concert of Europe, promoting conservative stability and Russian influence in Poland.
• Castlereagh: Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh, a British statesman pivotal in the Congress of Vienna, advocating for a balance of power and opposing interventionist policies.
• Concert of Europe: A post-Napoleonic diplomatic system to maintain balance and suppress revolutions, involving major powers in cooperative governance.
• Congress of Vienna: A 1814–1815 conference to restore European stability post-Napoleon, redrawing borders and establishing diplomatic frameworks.
• Conservatism Arises: A philosophy emphasizing tradition, hierarchy, and monarchy, emerging to counter revolutionary liberalism and restore order after the Napoleonic Wars.
• Edmund Burke: Irish philosopher whose critique of the French Revolution in Reflections on the Revolution in France shaped conservatism, advocating gradual change.
• First Industrial Revolution: A late 18th-century shift to industrialized economies in Britain, driven by machinery and coal, influencing social and political changes.
• French Revolution: A 1789–1799 upheaval that ended absolute monarchy, promoting popular sovereignty and inspiring global democratic movements.
• Hardenberg: Karl August von Hardenberg, a Prussian statesman who supported territorial gains and conservative stability at the Congress of Vienna.
• Joseph de Maistre: French philosopher advocating divine monarchy and religion, opposing Enlightenment secularism to maintain social order.
• Klemens von Metternich: Austrian diplomat leading the Congress of Vienna, promoting conservatism to restore monarchies and suppress revolutions.
• Metternich: Klemens von Metternich, Austrian statesman central to the Concert of Europe, advocating stability through monarchical authority and repression of dissent.
• Napoleon the Radical: Napoleon Bonaparte’s transformative policies, including legal equality and secularism, spreading revolutionary ideas across Europe.
• Poland’s Annexation by Russia and Prussia: Late 18th-century partitions dividing Poland among Russia, Prussia, and Austria, reflecting conservative power dynamics.
• Principle of Legitimacy: A doctrine restoring legitimate monarchs post-Napoleon, stabilizing Europe by upholding traditional governance.
• Principle of Intervention: A policy allowing Great Powers to suppress revolutions, proposed by Metternich to preserve conservative order.
• Quadruple Alliance (Austria, Britain, Russia, Prussia): A 1815 coalition to maintain European balance and prevent French resurgence, supporting the Concert of Europe.
• Restoration of the Balance of Power: A post-Napoleonic strategy to prevent any nation’s dominance, guiding the Congress of Vienna’s diplomatic efforts.
• Strengthen Countries around France: A strategy to bolster neighboring states to contain French influence, ensuring European stability post-Napoleon.
• Talleyrand: Charles Maurice de Talleyrand, French diplomat who navigated the Congress of Vienna to reintegrate France and minimize losses.
• Waterloo: The 1815 battle where Napoleon was defeated, ending the Napoleonic Wars and reshaping Europe’s political landscape.