Congress of Vienna - Overview and Goals

II. Overview of the Congress of Vienna A. The participants in the Congress of Vienna B. The goals of the Congress of Vienna The Congress of Vienna was a major international conference held in Vienna, Austria in 181415, following the defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte. The congress was attended by representatives from the major European powers, including Austria, Prussia, Russia, and the United Kingdom. The main goal of the congress was to redraw the map of Europe and restore the balance of power after the Napoleonic Wars. The participants in the Congress of Vienna: In addition to the major European powers, the congress was also attended by a number of smaller states and territories, including the Ottoman Empire, Sweden, and various German states. Representatives from the United States and other non-European countries were not invited to the congress, although they were allowed to send observers. The goals of the Congress of Vienna: The main goal of the congress was to restore the balance of power in Europe and prevent any one country from becoming dominant. To achieve this, the congress redrew the map of Europe, creating new borders and adjusting the size and power of various states. The congress also established a number of international organizations, including the Holy Alliance and the Concert of Europe, which were intended to promote cooperation and stability among the major European powers. Other goals of the congress included the restoration of monarchies, the protection of national borders, and the promotion of free trade. The settlement of territorial disputes: One of the main tasks of the congress was to resolve a number of territorial disputes that had arisen during the Napoleonic Wars. This included the creation of new borders and the adjustment of existing ones, as well as the transfer of territory from one country to another. Some of the major territorial settlements of the congress included the creation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the restoration of Prussia's territories in Germany, and the transfer of control of various Italian states from Austria to Sardinia. The restoration of monarchies: Another key goal of the congress was the restoration of monarchies that had been toppled or weakened during the Napoleonic Wars. This included the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in France, the Habsburg monarchy in Austria, and the Prussian monarchy in Germany. The congress also recognized the authority of various other monarchs, such as the Pope and the Ottoman sultan. The role of national self-determination: The Congress of Vienna marked a shift away from the principle of national self-determination, which had been emphasized during the French Revolution. Instead, the congress focused on the restoration of traditional monarchies and the protection of national borders, rather than on the rights and aspirations of individual nations. This led to a number of conflicts and tensions, as various nationalities and ethnic groups were incorporated into larger states against their will. The impact of the Congress of Vienna: The decisions made at the Congress of Vienna had a lasting impact on the political landscape of Europe. The settlement of territorial disputes and the restoration of monarchies helped to establish a more stable and predictable international order, which contributed to a period of relative peace and prosperity in Europe. However, the congress also laid the foundations for future conflicts, as various nationalities and ethnic groups were left dissatisfied and oppressed by the settlement.