Congress of Intervention

           This week, we learned about the Congress of Vienna. We explored what people should do when their power is threatened. We also looked at a series of problems and decided which solution Klemes Von Metternich (http://www.edline.net/files/_5TIQ1_/9db0e841f87ecf833745a49013852ec4/Unit_2_Activity_3_CongressofViennaProblems.pdf  problems link) would choose. Metternich was a conservative who commanded Napoleon to restore old boundaries and give up his conquest and if they don't Austria will declare war. After we predicted the resolutions that Metternich would be in favor of, we revealed what really happened and why. We looked at a Balance of Power, Principle of Legitimacy, Holy Alliance and Principle of Intervention.

           The Principle of Intervention was a reaction of European powers when they defeated the threat of Napoleon. Metternich and other members of the Congress of Vienna used this to send troops into a country to stop revolution and restore monarchy. England was an exception because they chose not to take part in the intervention. In the 1820's, Austria crushed an Italian uprising. The uprising was caused by the Italians because they wanted one big, strong country rather than small separate states. Also in the 1820's, there was a meeting to decide what to do about revolutions in the Spanish colonies and against the Spanish king. Louis XVII sent an army to crush the uprising in Spain. The Congress of Vienna impacted Europe in a big way. There was no war between countries until 1853, almost 40 years. However, there were numerous revolutions that could not be contained including the revolutions of 1848 in which Metternich lost power and was forced to flee Vienna. 

          I believe that the Congress of Vienna made a good choice by using the Principle of Intervention. Without this important idea there would have been many more wars and deaths. There was no better way except creating peace will all of the countries and not having to intervene. The powerful need to sacrifice themselves to show everyone that they are making decisions for the greater good and not themselves. 
         

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Basler04/CV