Conservatism, Liberalism, and NationalismA Volatile Mix in the Post-Napoleonic Period

1814-1848

The Source of The Source of Revolutionary DisturbancesRevolutionary Disturbances

Prince Metternich Prince Metternich of Austriaof Austria

““When Paris sneezes, Europe When Paris sneezes, Europe catches a cold. The disease catches a cold. The disease must be cured, the volcano must be cured, the volcano must be extinguished, the must be extinguished, the gangrene must be burned out gangrene must be burned out with a hot iron.”with a hot iron.”

Opposed Opposed Liberalism and Nationalism Liberalism and Nationalism of the of the French RevolutionFrench Revolution

Def: Def: advocates advocates limited governmentlimited government in order to in order to protect protect individual libertiesindividual liberties..

It is the ideology of Freedom:It is the ideology of Freedom:

Equality of opportunityEquality of opportunity

Freedom from arbitrary arrest Freedom from arbitrary arrest

Freedom of PressFreedom of Press

Freedom of AssemblyFreedom of Assembly

Freedom of ReligionFreedom of Religion

Freedom of SpeechFreedom of Speech

Free TradeFree Trade

Right to PropertyRight to Property

Def: Def: a sense of unity based upon shared a sense of unity based upon shared characteristics: language, culture, historical characteristics: language, culture, historical

experience, religion, ethnicity and geographyexperience, religion, ethnicity and geography ..

To some, nationalism expressed a desire or right To some, nationalism expressed a desire or right for nationalities to rule themselves. Examples of for nationalities to rule themselves. Examples of nationalities that did not rule themselves in 1815 nationalities that did not rule themselves in 1815 were Germans, Italians, and Poles. They wanted were Germans, Italians, and Poles. They wanted it – conservatives worried about more revolutionit – conservatives worried about more revolution

Def: Def: advocates legitimate, advocates legitimate, traditional government in order to traditional government in order to preserve the status-quopreserve the status-quo..

Edmund Burke, the founder of modern Edmund Burke, the founder of modern conservative thought, wrote: “The state conservative thought, wrote: “The state was a partnership, but one not only was a partnership, but one not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who between those who are living, those who are dead and those who are to be born…are dead and those who are to be born…No one generation therefore has the No one generation therefore has the right to destroy this partnership.”right to destroy this partnership.”

CONSERVATISM continued:CONSERVATISM continued:• Preserve the Preserve the Status QuoStatus Quo: Peace, Stability, : Peace, Stability, and and OrderOrder is achieved by a is achieved by a Balance of Balance of Power.Power.

Conservatives: Conservatives: Edmund Burke, Prince Edmund Burke, Prince MetternichMetternich

Generally aristocrats of noble or royal bloodGenerally aristocrats of noble or royal bloodThe peacemakers of 1815 (Britain, Prussia, Austria, The peacemakers of 1815 (Britain, Prussia, Austria, and Russia) were men who were backward-looking and Russia) were men who were backward-looking and conservative, who believed that liberalism was and conservative, who believed that liberalism was responsible for a generation of war and untold responsible for a generation of war and untold bloodshed and suffering.bloodshed and suffering.

OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES::The The THREETHREE goals of the Congress of Vienna goals of the Congress of Vienna

1. Legitimacy1. Legitimacy – restore monarchs on their – restore monarchs on their thrones. Put the government back to the way thrones. Put the government back to the way it was. Conservatives rule!it was. Conservatives rule!

2. Compensation2. Compensation – Countries that suffered from – Countries that suffered from Napoleon had to be compensated with LAND. Napoleon had to be compensated with LAND.

3. Balance of Power3. Balance of Power – a new European order in which no – a new European order in which no single power was able to dominate. Another Napoleon single power was able to dominate. Another Napoleon would NEVER take over Europe again!!would NEVER take over Europe again!!

GoalGoal – In addition to a balance of power across Europe, there would also be conservative/reactionary rule within.

Each country’s rulers would suppress liberal and nationalist threats through various means like censorship

Metternich SystemMetternich System

Could call on one another for help.Could call on one another for help.

Would it work?Would it work?

Reaction against the Reactionary Reaction against the Reactionary Congress of Vienna and MetternichCongress of Vienna and Metternich

Across Europe, liberals and nationalists tested Metternich system – lots of revolts!

Presence of all three – conservatism, Presence of all three – conservatism, liberalism, and nationalism makes for volatile liberalism, and nationalism makes for volatile relations within and among nation statesrelations within and among nation states

Revolutions of 1830 and 1848 show legacy of French Revolution Revolutions of 1830 and 1848 show legacy of French Revolution and Enlightenment are not dead. Vive la Revolution!!!!!!and Enlightenment are not dead. Vive la Revolution!!!!!!

But conservatism remains a major force!