CONGRESS SYSTEM
Between 1815 and 1848, the affairs in Europe were dominated by 5 main powers.
The ‘Grand Alliance” powers of Austria, Prussia, Russia and GB had succeeded in defeating Napoleon. Their decision – the Vienna Settlement – were to assure peace in Europe.
It meant that territory & influence in Europe would be divided by these powers to prevent the domination by any country.
From 1818, the Great Powers included France as an equal partner. They spent the next 30years attempting to maintain the Vienna Settlement.
They all wanted to preserve it but they differed how far it should be adapted to changing circumstances.
These differences were to shape international relations.
From 1818 to 1822, the Concert of Europe worked through the series of congresses at which the Great Powers tried to resolve problems that occurred.
Concert of Europe – consensus among the European monarchists. It assumed the responsibility and right of the Great Powers to intervene and impose their collective will on states threatened by the internal rebellion.
“Congress System” – large, important meetings attended by monarchs or their principal ministers at which a variety of issues was discussed.
1. Congress of Aix-la-Chapele 1818
It was attended by Alexander I of Russia, Francis I of Austria, Friedrich William III of Prussia. GB was represented by Viscount Castlereagh and by the Duke of Wellington. Armand-Emmanuel, Duke de Richelieu represented France.
They met to consider the position of France. At the 1st session, Richelieu offered to pay most of war indemnity owned by France to the allies in return for the withdrawal of their armies of occupation.
This offer was accepted. At the congress, France was welcomed back to the Concert of Europe.
The congress also discussed suppression [=abolition] of the slave trade. But only this issue was discussed.
The status of Jews and many other questions were discussed.
2. the Congress of Troppau
There were revolutions in Spain, Naples and Portugal in 1820. These events were very alarming for the Great Powers. In 1820, the next congress took place.
It was the meeting of the Holy Alliance powers. Attended by Francis I of Austria, Alexander I of Russia, Friedrich William III of Prussia, their foreign ministers and the observers from GB and France.
Congress decided to intervene in Naples against the revolution there.
At the congress, the Troppau Protocol was signed. It asserted that states having undergone revolutions would be excluded from the European alliance. The allied powers wouldn’t recognise illegal changes in such states and the powers would use force to restore them to the alliance.
GB and France refused to accept it, demonstrating the division between Eastern and Western members of alliance and seriously weakening it.
3. Congress of Laibach 1821
It was a continuation of Troppau meeting.
That congress was a meeting of the Holy Alliance powers. It set the conditions for Austrian intervention in and occupation of the Two Sicilies against the Revolution.
Attended by the monarchs of Russia, Prussia, Austria and their chief-ministers.
+ British and French observers and the King of the Two Sicilies.
GB and France protested the decision.
4. Congress of Verona 1822
The congress was held mainly to consider the revolutionary situation in Spain. It authorised a French expedition into Spain.
France was to intervene in Spain to overthrow the constitutional regime established there in 1820.
The British, however, prevented the allies from interfering with the revolts occurring in the Spanish America. The British created enough discord [niezgoda] among the allies to cause a breakdown in the Congress System.
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