Date of Award

4-1972

Degree Type

Master's Essay - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

First Advisor

J. William Rooney

Abstract

In 1815, the great statesmen of Europe went to Vienna to complete the monumental task of redressing the Napoleonic domination of Europe. While fixed in their determination to secure a balanced peace, the Congress soon dissolved into disagreement as each of the major powers defined Continental stability according to its particular national security. Thus Austria, a nation composed of various ethnic groups, defined stability in terms of social and international security, Russia and France defined stability as that system which allowed for their own national predominance, while the British Isles viewed European stability in terms of any overt threat which then challenged her imperial and maritime character. Since all were convinced that the events of the previous decade had destroyed European legitimacy, a new order of international diplomacy, embodied in Article VI of the treaty and called by later generations the concert system, established universal peace. Unfortunately the "new" order of concerted action revolved around a traditional definition of legitimacy. The concert chose to define a foreign policy within the framework of eighteenth century monarchical latitude rather than in the nineteenth century concept of self-determination. Saddled with the liberal institutions coming from the French Revolution and the already growing fervor of nationalism, the great powers became more and more aware of their own national ambitions and less aware of concerted mediation. The two decades following the peace of 1815 challenged the very legitimacy which Vienna had sought to restore. The overt enemy of 1815 was exiled to Elba yet fresh contests erupted on the Continent under the guise of nationalism and self-determination. Thus the very nature of the battle changed and that concert of nations which had initially been organized to maintain a defensive traditional order soon became offensive in its character as any act which enforced nineteenth century nationalism threatened the diplomatic relations of the great European sovereigns. Once the threat which had successfully united the great sovereigns in five coalitions had been removed at Waterloo, the bonds of alliance were loosened. The latitude which the Concert gave to a definition of stability soon proved to be the means by which the enemies of Napoleon soon became enemies among themselves. The question of stability became a difficult one after 1815 as Austria attempted to initiate a universal defensive policy against domestic as well as foreign aggression while England, France, and Russia are dominated by more offensive national considerations. All reflect their own national ambitions and thus the Quadruple Alliance of 1815 was as doomed as was the League of Nations a century later when concerted action becomes impossible in the face of national aspirations.

Comments

An Essay Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Marquette University, in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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