Ch 23: Revolution & Counter Revolution

Europe from 1815-1848

The Congress of Vienna:

The leading statesmen at the conference included:

• Prince Klemens von Metternich of Austria• Czar Alexander I of Russia• Prince Karl von Hardenberg of Prussia• Lord Castlereagh of Great Britain• Lord Talleyrand of France

• Prince Metternich

• Czar Alexander

• Viscount Castlereagh

• Prince Hardenberg

Two themes of the conference:

• “Turn Back the Clock”

• “Destroy the Enlightenment”

Ideas they supported:

• Legitimacy

• Compensation

• Balance of power

Ideas they were against:

• Republicanism

• Liberalism

• Nationalism

The winners…

• France • Russia• Holland• Prussia• Austria• England • In general, hereditary rulers who had

been displaced by Napoleon

The losers…• Poland• Finland• Norway• Belgium• The Italian people• The German people• In general, liberals, republicans and

nationalists

The Holy Alliance, proposed by Czar Alexander I

The Quadruple Alliance, organized by Prince Metternich,

Liberal, Republican Revolutions, 1820-1829

• 1820, Spain

• 1821, The Two Sicilies and Piedmont

• 1823, Latin America

• 1825, Russia

• 1821-1829, the Greeks

1830, a year of Revolution

• France• Belgium• Poland• Italian lands• German lands

The revolution in France …

• 1824, Charles X succeeded his brother Louis XVIII and tried to restore Old Regime conditions….

• “Paris Barricades” July 27-29,1830

• “Liberty Leading the People,” 1830

In 1830, Louis-Philippe is enthroned as king…

• Louis-Philippe enacted a liberal constitution, reducing property qualifications for voting…but…

• French success ignited other European revolutions.

Belgium wins its independence from Holland, 1830-1832

• Poland, 1831 The Cadet Revolution led by Piotr Wysocki

The Revolutions of 1830…

• The revolutions failed in Italy and Poland-revolutionary leaders failed to stir the large peasant populations to the cause of independence and liberalism.

1848The Year of Revolution

1848, the year of revolution…

• Economic crises led to food riots• Financial crises led to reduced wages,

unemployment • “The absence of liberty…”-censorship,

corruption and voting restrictions. • Uprisings for political liberty and

nationhood took place throughout Europe.• Major uprising occurred in France, Austria,

Italian and German lands.

France: the June Revolution-

The Second French Empire-

• Revolutionists led rioting mobs through Paris and Louis-Philippe fled the city.

• The Republic was proclaimed and universal male suffrage was granted.

• Napoleon’s nephew, Louis Napoleon was elected president.

The Revolutions of 1848 failed…

• Inexperienced leadership• Lack of unity and clear goals• Failure of middle class liberals and

workers to agree on reforms• Conservative governments were strong

enough to prevail• Nationalism was divisive

Although mainly unsuccessful, 1848 was a pivotal year…

• the downfall of Metternich in Austria and the Metternich system in Europe…

• A republic & universal suffrage in France…• A liberal constitution in Piedmont • The end to serfdom in Austria• A “no-so liberal” constitution in Prussia• The recognition that peaceful political and

economic pressure had to replace violence and revolution.

Any questions?