Decisions

Definition

In the context of the Congress of Vienna, decisions refer to the agreements and resolutions made by the major European powers to restore stability and balance following the Napoleonic Wars. These decisions aimed to reshape Europe’s political landscape, curtail French expansion, and establish a framework for diplomacy and collective security among the great powers. The outcomes of these decisions would have lasting impacts on European relations, leading to a period of relative peace known as the Concert of Europe.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Congress of Vienna took place from September 1814 to June 1815, involving key figures like Klemens von Metternich of Austria, Tsar Alexander I of Russia, and Lord Castlereagh of Britain.
2. Decisions made at the Congress sought to contain France by surrounding it with stronger neighboring countries like the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Prussia.
3. The principle of legitimacy resulted in the restoration of several monarchies, including Louis XVIII in France, which aimed to create a conservative order across Europe.
4. One significant decision was the establishment of a new map of Europe, which significantly altered borders and created new states based on ethnic and political considerations.
5. The Concert of Europe was established as a result of these decisions, allowing great powers to meet periodically to resolve disputes and ensure collective security.

Review Questions

• How did the decisions made at the Congress of Vienna reflect the goals of its key participants?
  • The decisions made at the Congress of Vienna reflected the goals of its key participants by focusing on restoring order and preventing future conflicts in Europe. Leaders like Metternich sought to establish a conservative order that favored monarchy over revolution. Their decisions emphasized balance through territorial adjustments and alliances that would check French power while promoting stability across Europe.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of the decisions taken during the Congress of Vienna for European politics in the following decades.
  • The long-term implications of the decisions taken during the Congress of Vienna were significant for European politics. The establishment of the Balance of Power helped maintain relative peace for several decades, as nations worked together through mechanisms like the Concert of Europe. However, this also sowed the seeds for future nationalist movements as ethnic groups sought self-determination in territories reshaped by these decisions. Ultimately, while it created a temporary equilibrium, it did not address underlying tensions that would later lead to conflict.
• Analyze how the decisions made at the Congress of Vienna set the stage for both cooperation and conflict among European powers in the 19th century.
  • The decisions made at the Congress of Vienna set the stage for both cooperation and conflict among European powers by establishing a framework for diplomacy while leaving unresolved issues that fueled tensions. On one hand, initiatives like the Concert of Europe promoted collaboration among nations to manage crises peacefully. On the other hand, redrawn borders and restored monarchies often disregarded nationalist aspirations, leading to uprisings and wars throughout the 19th century. The balance achieved was fragile, as competing interests among nations would frequently challenge the cooperative efforts initiated at Vienna.

Related terms

Balance of Power: A political concept where power is distributed among various states to prevent any one entity from dominating the others, ensuring stability in international relations.

Legitimacy: The principle that legitimate monarchs who ruled before Napoleon should be restored to their thrones to maintain stability and continuity in governance.

Concert of Europe: An early form of collective security and diplomatic cooperation among European powers established after the Congress of Vienna to maintain peace and address potential conflicts.