AP Euro - 6.5 - Concert of Europe and European Conservatism

Concert of Europe

For ~50 years, Europe was under conservatism and maintained peace

Klemens von Metternich

Drove of the Concert of Europe and believed that only powerful central governments to maintain order to the European states

Metternich’s Goals

1. Restore the balance of power by installing legitimate and conservative rulers on the various thrones of Europe

2. Ensure that European states upheld the rights and prerogatives of the landed aristocracy

3. Argue for the need of organized religion as the fortification of stable states

Carlsbad Decrees

• In Austria in 1819

• Worked to suppress liberal and nationalist movements in the German states

What did the Carlsbad Decrees do?

• Outlawed nationalist organizations

• Dissolved radical student organizations

• Removed liberal college professors from their posts

Conservatism in Russia

• Tsars claimed to rule by divine right

• They utilized secret police for dissent

• Upheld serfdom using conservative consensus