Transcript Selected Political Events in 19th Century Europe

Selected Political
th
Events In 19
Century Europe
Wow… Napoleon was scary.
How can we keep that
from happening again?
As a foreign minister he helped guide
the process of restoring the continent.
His authority was recognized by the
five big powers of the time...
Prussia, Russia, Austria, Britain, and France.
It quickly escalated into eight
months of politics and partying.
Who do I have to
sleep with to earn some
more land for my country?
Metternich
succeeded in
restoring a balance
of power to the
continent, as well as
restoring legitimate
rulers to their
thrones.
I am so cool...
France had
to give
back all of
the
territories
conquered
by
Napoleon,
bringing
about the
creation of
many new
nations.
1815
• Napoleon is defeated at Waterloo
• Metternich leads Congress of Vienna to
create power balance
• Quadruple Alliance (British, Austria,
Prussia, Russia) agree to a “Concert of
Europe” meeting when problems arise
• Louis XVIII becomes constitutional
monarch of France
How do all the other nations
feel about being controlled
by the Quadruple Alliance?
1824: Charles X
becomes king of
France and wants
to return to an
absolute monarchy
And the
people
revolted so
intensely
that he had
to run and
hide in
Britain.
So, Louis-Philippe, a
noble with liberal
tendencies who
supported the
Revolution, was chosen
by the French to
replace the fleeing
Charles X and serve as
constitutional
monarch.
Quoting the French
“This king has the manners of a
citizen, and the plainness of dress
and demeanor very suitable to
an American president, but
unbecoming a descendent of
the Sun King.”
1830
• Revolutions in many countries
(including France, Greece, Belgium,
and Poland) test the Stability of the
Congress of Vienna
• Constitutional monarchy established
in France under Louis-Philippe
The German states keep fighting and staging
revolts, but none of their new governments last.
Oh my gosh, all of my
knowledge of history
empowers me to make an
accurate prediction of what
will happen next. History
has trends. It repeats itself.
I’m so smart!
1848
• Democratic revolutions in German
states and France
• Louis Napoleon elected president
of Second Republic of France
• Attempts to unify Italy and
Germany fail
Do you remember what Napoleon did once the
French people had grown weary of instability?
Do you remember what Napoleon did once the
French people had grown weary of instability?
Do you remember what Napoleon did once the
French people had grown weary of instability?
Do you remember what Napoleon did once the
French people had grown weary of instability?
Do you remember what Napoleon did once the
French people had grown weary of instability?
1851
• Louis Napoleon assumes title “Napoleon
III”, stages a coup d’etat and becomes
Emperor of France
France, Britain, Sardinia,
and the Ottoman Empire
form an alliance against
Russia and Bulgaria in a
battle for control of the
Crimean Peninsula and the
Dardanelles. This
effectively ends the
Congress of Europe
1853
• Crimean War, a battle between
Russia and the Ottoman Empire over
possession of a peninsula extending
into the Black Sea, results in a power
shift in Europe, and Austria and
Russia become enemies
Final Events
• 1866 – Prussia defeats Austria in the
Seven Weeks War, which paves the way
for German unification
• 1870 – Napoleon III and the French
defeated by Prussians; Third French
Republic established; Italian unification
achieved
• 1871 – German unification achieved,
Second Reich established