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Concert of Europe

• 19th-century regulation of international affairs by Great Powers.

• Aims: maintain balance of power, ensure peace, protect monarchy.

Key Events

• Congress of Vienna (1814-1815) established after Napoleonic Wars.

• Notable wars disrupting peace:

  • Crimean War (1853-1856)

  • Italian unification wars (1859-1871)

  • German unification wars (1859-1871)

Key Figures

• Francis I of Austria

• Clemens von Metternich (Austria)

• Alexander I (Russia)

• Lord Robert Castlereagh (Britain)

• Charles Maurice de Talleyrand (France)

Congress of Vienna

• Aimed to

  • Create lasting peace

  • Maintain balance of power

  • Protect monarchy

• Rearranged European territories to counter French influence.

• Established the Quadruple Alliance (Austria, Russia, Prussia, England).

Nationalism

• Emergence as a significant force post-French Revolution.

• Nationalist groups sought self-determination and unification over common heritage.

Revolts and Reforms

• 1848 Revolutions across Europe for liberal reforms and national unity.

• Significant failures in uprisings in Austria, Italy, and Germany.

Rise of Bismarck

• Otto von Bismarck united Germany through strategic wars and diplomacy.

• Known for policies of Realpolitik, focusing on pragmatism over ideology.

• Key victories included:

  • War with Denmark (1864)

  • Austro-Prussian War (1866)

  • Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) leading to the unification of Germany.

• Established a bicameral legislature in Germany.

Economic Transformation

• Post-unification, Germany rapidly industrialized, leveraging natural resources like coal and iron.

• Expansion of infrastructure to support economic growth.

Domestic Policy Challenges

• Bismarck faced challenges from the Catholic Church and socialists, leading to repressive policies to control opposition.