Study Guide on Reaction, Revolution, and Romanticism: 1815-1850

Through the Concert of Europe:
- Conservatives like Metternich sought to maintain the status quo in Europe.
- Emphasis on traditional religious and political authority.
Liberalism vs. Conservatism:
- Liberals promoted popular sovereignty and individual rights, primarily for the wealthy middle class.
- Radicals demanded universal male suffrage.
- These ideological conflicts led to worker movements, labor unions, and feminist arguments for women's rights, as well as abolitionist movements.
Artistic Movement of Romanticism:
- Break from neoclassical forms to focus on emotion, nature, and supernatural elements.
Thematic Questions:
- How did conservatives respond post-Napoleon?
- The paradox of middle-class liberals' desire for equality alongside their treatment of the lower classes.
- The rise of radical movements for better lives for workers, women, and slaves.
- Romanticism as a reaction to industrialization and revolts fueled by nationalism.

September 1814: Gathering in Vienna of European royalty and diplomats to establish order post-Napoleon.
Main objectives:
- To arrange a peace settlement after a decade of war.
- Restore rulers and stabilize Europe by re-establishing traditional institutions.
Bourbon Restoration:
- Bourbon monarchy restored in France with Louis XVIII.
- Restoration efforts aimed at countering revolutionary changes.

Goals of the Congress of Vienna and Concert of Europe:
- To contain revolution and restore the old order.
- Establish a balance of power to prevent dominance by any single power.
Key Figures:
- Prince Klemens von Metternich as a principal figure advocating for conservative stability.
Principle of Legitimacy:
- Government legitimacy based on restoration of rightful monarchs.
- For example, the treatment of Poland during discussions highlighted competing power interests over legitimacy.
New Order and Power Dynamics:
- Formation of a new balance of power to deter French expansionism. Prussia and Austria strengthened against Russia to maintain equilibrium.

Conservatism Origins:
- Emergence with Edmund Burke's critiques of the French Revolution.
- Emphasis on society as a contract among generations, tradition as essential for social order.
Metternich's Role:
- Viewed as a significant conservative figure, he heavily influenced policies to repress revolutionary ideologies.

Metternich's Protocol at Troppau:
- Established the right of great powers to intervene in other nations’ revolutions to restore order.
- Example: Austrian intervention in Naples to quell dissent, reflecting this principle in action.

Revolutionary Activity:
- 1820s and 1830s saw several uprisings inspired by nationalism and liberal ideas.
- Key events in Spain, Italy, and Poland where liberal forces sought reform but faced strong conservative backlash.
Responses from Great Powers:
- Britain’s refusal to support intervention highlighted ideological differences within the Concert of Europe.

Inspiration from Enlightenment and Revolutions:
- Movements led by figures like Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín aimed at territorial independence from colonial rule.
Influence of Napoleonic Wars:
- Colonial powers weakened allowed Creoles to challenge Spanish and Portuguese rule.

Outcome of the Greek Struggle for Independence:
- Became a cause célèbre for European powers, culminating in support from Britain, France, and Russia against the Ottoman Empire.
- Established Greece as an independent kingdom in 1830 but demonstrated the complexities of nationalist sentiment.

Emphasis on Emotion:
- Romantic poets such as Wordsworth and Byron focused on nature, individualism, and emotion in their works, reacting against strict rationalism.
Influence of Historical Context:
- Use of historical themes in literature, architecture, and the visual arts provided a connection to national identity and culture.

Romanticism in Arts:
- The period saw a shift in artistic expression from Classicism to a focus on emotion and individual perspectives. Artists like Turner and Delacroix epitomized this through their works.
Music’s Role:
- Composers such as Beethoven and Berlioz explored deep emotional landscapes, often intertwined with themes of revolution and individualism.

Political Changes:
- Sometimes linked with social and economic reform movements, instigated by industrialization and the resultant class disparities.
Emergence of Socialism:
- Late Romantic socialists called for systemic changes to alleviate working-class struggles, although they initially lacked broad support.

Continental Upheaval:
- Revolutions sparked by growing liberal and nationalist sentiments; notably successful in France while failing across many other states.
- Fragmented revolutionary forces, leading to conservative restoration.
Key Takeaway: Despite failure, the revolutions stressed the vitality of liberal and nationalist ideologies and set the stage for future changes in Europe.