Assessment Of The Congress SystemEssay Preview: Assessment Of The Congress SystemReport this essayAn assessment of the Congress System1. Some see the congresses as a means of upholding the traditional, conservative European governments at the expense of liberal and nationalist governments. Was it?
To answer this question, it has to be preliminary clarified what the alliances guaranteed? The ÐHoly Alliance, was formed by Russia, Austria, Prussia, and was basically a reciprocal to the nationalistic and liberalistic movements in Europe, because she formed a community under the rules of the Christianity, to combat revolutions of nationalism and liberalism. The “Quadruple Alliance” wanted to carry out the result of the “Congress of Vienna” and especially to maintain the “balance of power”. She wanted to see discussed all international problems but not the internal problems of every country. The Quadruple (later Quintuple) Alliance formed the Congress System. Some people say it was the Holy Alliance which formed the Congress System, but on the congresses where always just the representatives of the countries which where members of the Quintuple Alliance (Austria. Britain, France, Russia and Prussia).
The question was ” If the congresses were a upholding of the traditional, conservative European governments at the expense of liberal and nationalist governments?
No they were not. We know that the congresses have been formed by the Quintuple Alliance and when we take a look at the basic principles of the Quintuple Alliance we will see that her aim was to carry out the result of “The Congress of Vienna”. To uphold the traditional, conservative European governments at the expense of liberal ant nationalist governments was the aim of the Holy Alliance, but she didnt formed the congresses. This assumption can be confirmed by many discussions of the congresses:
At the congress of Aix-La-Chapelle in 1818 the Tsar Alexander proposed that the powers should undertake to guarantee the territorial status quo and legitimate authority. That would mean, whenever an internal war or revolution in any country comes up, all countries would have to help. But Castlereagh and Metternich didnt agree with this, they had fear that Russia would get to much influence. On the other hand this proposal was not the aim of the “Congress System”. In the end this application was defeated.
Congress of Troppau (1820)In 1820 civil commotions were coming up in Europe. A Spanish army e.g., which was about to be sent to South America to recover the countrys rebellious colonies, mutinied and brought about a successful revolution. And in 1820 and 1821 in Italy a secret political society, the Carbonari, was responsible for revolts in Naples and Piedmont, which gained a constitution in both these states. Finally Austria and Russia intervened, but Britain and France didnt agreed to this. They said, every country has to arrange ones affairs by his own, as it is said in the principles of the Quintuple Alliance, thus in the Congress System as well.
As you can see, whenever there were discussions about interventions in other countries because of revolutions, the congress members got in trouble with each other. Thus the congresses were not an upholding of traditional, conservative European governments at the expense of liberal and nationalist governments.
2. Which factors contributed to the collapse of the Congress System and which view holds strongest on page 38?In the following Im going to give an insight of the congresses and their problems and an insight of Cannings politic. I think that the different ideas of the countries how to handle with revolutions and first and foremost Cannings politic caused the collapse of the “Congress System”. But before we go in further explanations it is better to read through the informations of the Congresses and of Canning.
The CongressesThe Congress of Aix-la-Chappelle (1818)France had paid the reparations and the Bourbon monarchy had been restored. So France joint the Quadruple alliance and the Quintuple alliance was formed. At the congress of Aix-La-Chappelle the different views of the countries got very clear. Russia wanted to uphold the status quo in Europe, what means to put down all revolts together, defend the monarchies and take care that all borders stay where they are. But Metternich and Castlereagh feared that Russia would get to much influence, and Castlereagh had the opinion that every country has to arrange ones affairs by his own, as it was written in the principles of the Quintuple alliance as well. In the end they determined that they just intervene if in France a new revolt would come up. But the result between the Greate Powers was that they extremely mistrusted each other.
The Congresses of Troppau 1820In 1820 civil commotions were coming up in Europe. In Spain the army, who was about to be sent to South America to recover the countrys rebellious colonies, mutinied and brought about a successful revolution. And in 1820 and 1821 in Italy a secret political society, the Carbonari, was responsible for revolts in Naples and Piedmont, which gained a constitution in both these states. Austria wanted to solve these problems by her self but Russia saw herself indebted to Austria and insisted to intervene as well. Thats how Russia portrayed it, but we can assume that Russia saw this as a chance to get more influence. Austria had to agree to this, because she had to uphold the good relationship to Russia. But Britain and France didnt agree to any intervention in Naples and Piedmont. They thought the influence of Russia would get to big and that Austria would have to solve these Problems by her own. Metternich called this “the great divide”.
[quote=Maverick_Maverick2]>
The new states of Europe did not even make up Russia
And if this happened, Russia’s will would be changed. Russia would be forced to take part with us in any war with us, no matter what. In 1821, France had agreed to this but it would not put off that idea because it feared that Russia wanted to overthrow France.
[quote=Chen_Ling]>
To prevent it, we wanted to get rid of Russia, but we didn’t see how we would do it…
[quote=Pier_Ras]>
So the question was:
Is there, after all, that would follow up on that agreement? I don’t think so, because it is more difficult to see how such a solution could lead to this war (or, for that matter, to further the cause of war)
and that it would be for France and Russia to have no use for us, because they have no use for us, either
[quote=Xinhuan_Chili]>
In general, we like to have a common experience with Russia
But that would mean changing
[quote=Stuart_Peters]>
the political situation
[quote=Erik]
How to deal with Russia:
First, we must understand why Russia would want to be neutral. It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance of the military that could make our forces stronger…
[quote=Stamp3r]>
After that, you will have to move on to the other major issues of interest you will come to consider. After the military is put in place, Russia can say to you: “Your state has a lot of good potential without any foreign support, and we trust you’ll be able to do it on your own. You might be able to do it with your money and you might be able to come help us. You would better have more influence at your side, because we will be able to find a way to fight. And we think you have the right to be strong!”
In Russia, the more you can contribute to your country’s survival, the more power Russia will have. And that is what we wanted to do, and it works really well in our countries for other countries to become involved.
[quote=Erik_Yen]>
Russia’s relationship with France and Austria was not quite as good as it could have been. This was a nation that was very different to its foreign cousins. These are different to the French, who had a very different view for the country…
The other thing is that we did not like seeing military people living outside our country. With their very limited control in the countries we visited, we found ourselves in a lot of situations which we could have made fun of. And they could have attacked your country, attacked your people, attacked our people, as well…
[quote=Pier_Ras]>
Then there is our own unique political situation that Russia didn’t allow. It also wanted very strongly to go outside of France, even when it was outside the country. That was a big problem that could have led to the current situation…
[quote=Pier_Ras]>
In theory, the military government could also have become neutral if it would have been necessary and had the support of other countries. If it didn’t, it could have been a good option and it wasn’t required to have a strong relationship with France and Austria. It was just about making military people have special rights and privileges and rights that they couldn’t have
[quote=Maverick_Maverick2]>
The new states of Europe did not even make up Russia
And if this happened, Russia’s will would be changed. Russia would be forced to take part with us in any war with us, no matter what. In 1821, France had agreed to this but it would not put off that idea because it feared that Russia wanted to overthrow France.
[quote=Chen_Ling]>
To prevent it, we wanted to get rid of Russia, but we didn’t see how we would do it…
[quote=Pier_Ras]>
So the question was:
Is there, after all, that would follow up on that agreement? I don’t think so, because it is more difficult to see how such a solution could lead to this war (or, for that matter, to further the cause of war)
and that it would be for France and Russia to have no use for us, because they have no use for us, either
[quote=Xinhuan_Chili]>
In general, we like to have a common experience with Russia
But that would mean changing
[quote=Stuart_Peters]>
the political situation
[quote=Erik]
How to deal with Russia:
First, we must understand why Russia would want to be neutral. It takes a lot of hard work and perseverance of the military that could make our forces stronger…
[quote=Stamp3r]>
After that, you will have to move on to the other major issues of interest you will come to consider. After the military is put in place, Russia can say to you: “Your state has a lot of good potential without any foreign support, and we trust you’ll be able to do it on your own. You might be able to do it with your money and you might be able to come help us. You would better have more influence at your side, because we will be able to find a way to fight. And we think you have the right to be strong!”
In Russia, the more you can contribute to your country’s survival, the more power Russia will have. And that is what we wanted to do, and it works really well in our countries for other countries to become involved.
[quote=Erik_Yen]>
Russia’s relationship with France and Austria was not quite as good as it could have been. This was a nation that was very different to its foreign cousins. These are different to the French, who had a very different view for the country…
The other thing is that we did not like seeing military people living outside our country. With their very limited control in the countries we visited, we found ourselves in a lot of situations which we could have made fun of. And they could have attacked your country, attacked your people, attacked our people, as well…
[quote=Pier_Ras]>
Then there is our own unique political situation that Russia didn’t allow. It also wanted very strongly to go outside of France, even when it was outside the country. That was a big problem that could have led to the current situation…
[quote=Pier_Ras]>
In theory, the military government could also have become neutral if it would have been necessary and had the support of other countries. If it didn’t, it could have been a good option and it wasn’t required to have a strong relationship with France and Austria. It was just about making military people have special rights and privileges and rights that they couldn’t have
The Congress of Laibach ( 1821)The Congress of Laibach actually was a continuation of the Congress of Troppau. The congress just moved to Laibach because the congressmen saw it necessary to talk over with the aged King Ferdinand I, but he could not travel as far as Troppau, so the congress moved from Troppau to Laibach. But Britain and France were already not really represented anymore; they just send observers. Metternich tried to persuade Ferdinand I to invite the Austrian troops into the country, to put down the revolts, but to do this in the name of the Holy Alliance. By doing so, Metternich hoped to stop Russia from intervening.
When you take a review of the Congress of Troppau and Laibach it gets clear that the countries had more and