Nationalism after Napoleon

• Napoleon had control over all of Europe at one point. What happened when Napoleon abdicated?

Congress of Vienna

• The great powers of Austria, Prussia, and Great Britain met at the Congress of Vienna in 1814. They wanted to restore the old order after Napoleon was defeated.

• Wanted legitimate monarchs who were forced to step down by Napoleon restored to their thrones.

Congress of Vienna

• The countries also wanted to make sure that one country could not overpower the others, like Napoleon had done.

• Countries like Prussia and Austria were given more land to balance out the powers.

• The powers at the Congress agreed to meet in the future to ensure the balance of power in Europe. These meetings were called the Concert of Europe.

Nationalism

• Nationalism arose out of people’s awareness of belonging to a community with common institutions, traditions, language and customs. This community is called a nation. On the views of nationalism, citizens owe their loyalty to a nation, not a king or leader.

• Nationalists came to believe that each nationality should have their own country/government.

• Countries that were divided into principalities, such as Germany was, believed that Germany should be unified and become one country. Anyone not “German” such as the Hungarians, should also have their own country.