Congress of Vienna Note Sheet
Name: _____________________________ Date: ___________ Period: _____
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Guided Notes Post-Napoleonic Europe (1814–1815)
The Congress of Vienna
"Turning Back the Clock"
Peace • Stability • Order
Part 1: Overview & The Five Great Powers
Primary Goal: Meetings called to establish long-lasting ___________________ and ___________________ after the final defeat of ___________________________.
Diplomacy: Decisions were made largely in secret among the 5 "Great Powers".
The 5 Great Powers:
1. ______________
2. ______________
3. ______________
4. ______________
5. ______________
Key Leader Prince Klemens von Metternich (Foreign Minister of ___________________): Distrusted the ___________________________ Revolution and viewed Napoleon as a natural consequence of experiments with _________________________.
Part 2: Metternich's Three Core Goals
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Goal 1: Containment of France
Strengthening Surrounding States
Objective: Prevent future French aggression by surrounding France with ____________________ countries.
• Netherlands: Former Austrian Netherlands and Dutch Republic united into the ______________________________________________.
• German States: 39 German states loosely joined as the new _______________________________________________.
• Switzerland: Formally recognized by powers as an _____________________________ nation.
• Sardinia: Kingdom of Sardinia strengthened by gaining the territory of _____________________________.
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Goal 2: Balance of Power
Equilibrium Among Powers
Goal: Ensure that no single country would be a __________________ to any other.
Why avoid crushing France? Severe punishment might cause France to seek ______________________, and dismantling France could allow another nation to become too ______________________.
Outcome for France: Remained a major, but ________________________, European power.
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Goal 3: Principle of Legitimacy
Restoring Hereditary Rulers
Definition: Returning Europe's royal families to the ____________________ they held prior to Napoleon's conquests (e.g., in France, Spain, and Italian states).
Rationale: Diplomats believed restoring legitimate monarchs would _________________________ political relations among nations.
Napoleonic Nepotism Reversed: Napoleon had placed his 4 brothers on thrones and married his 3 sisters into royalty. Legitimacy restored historic ruling bloodlines.
Turn to Page 2 → Conservative Victory, Ideology & Global Consequences Congress of Vienna Dossier • Page 1
Name: _____________________________ Topic: The Congress of Vienna (Continued)
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Part 3: The Conservative Order & Diplomatic Alliances
Victory for Conservatives (people who resist change)
Restored Monarchies
Monarchs resumed power across Europe, dividing into two government systems:
Constitutional Monarchs:
1. ________________________ 2. ________________________
Absolute Monarchs:
1. __________________ 2. __________________ 3. __________________
Rulers feared French ideals: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
Defensive Alliances
The Holy Alliance:
Agreement between Russia, Prussia, and Austria pledging to base relations on _____________________ principles to combat revolution.
The Concert of Europe:
Series of alliances devised by Metternich ensuring nations would __________________________________________ if revolutions broke out.
Key Success: Ensured peace among European great powers lasting nearly 40 years.
Part 4: "Ideals Live On..." (The Toothpaste Metaphor)
You cannot put toothpaste back in the tube
Ideas of the French Revolution could not be contained. France was deeply divided:
Conservatives: Happy with restored King _____________________ XVIII and tradition.
Liberals: Wanted the king to share authority with a ________________________.
Lower classes remained deeply committed to: __________________, __________________, & __________________.
Permanent Shift:
People now viewed __________________________ as the best way to ensure equality, individual rights, and justice.
Part 5: Long-Term Global Consequences
1. Latin American Revolutions
Spanish colonies took advantage of European turmoil to declare ___________________________ and break free from Spanish rule.
2. Shifts in National Power
Power of France decreased, while the power of __________________________ and __________________________ increased.
3. Spread of Nationalism
Nationalism grew in areas placed under foreign control, such as: __________________, __________________, and __________________.
4. 19th-Century Revolutions
Nationalist feelings would explode into revolutions, leading to new _________________________ forming in Europe in the 1800s.
Synthesis & Historical Reflection
Respond in 2–3 complete sentences
Evaluate: Did the Congress of Vienna succeed or fail? Consider its achievement of nearly 40 years of European peace versus its inability to permanently suppress the forces of democracy and nationalism.
The Congress of Vienna • Student Note Sheet Completed Score: ______ / 100
