The Congress of Vienna Essay Example

The whole purpose of the Congress of Vienna was to develop a strategy for maintaining peace and stability by settling critical issues that arose from the French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic War. Key figures at the Congress of Vienna were Lord Castlereagh, Klemens von Metternich, and Tsar Alexander I. Each of the leaders had different points of view at the Congress of Vienna. Lord Castlereagh, representing Britain, had a vision that aimed to make diplomacy possible by conference rather than to establish any system of international regulation. He had a vision that there would be long-term peace in Europe that united the efforts of the great powers. Secondly, Klemens Von Metternich who represented Austria had a point of view that was to create a balance of power in Europe. From what I know, he approached the matter from a perspective of conservatism. He believed that the best government was absolutism but that it was best because it guaranteed justice. Finally, Tsar Alexander I who represented Russia and controlled the delegation of Russian delegations had a view that wanted to gain control of Poland, promote the peace of European nations, and form a league that could intervene and stop revelations against monarchies and traditionalism. It was known that the Congress of Vienna had accomplished its goal, which was to create a balance of power and lay the foundations of enduring peace. From my point of view, these two successes have been effective.

The first achievement was to create the balance of power, which was successful, and necessary. This gave each nation the balance of power that all needed, even though each nation had to give up land or resources, but in the end, they all gained something they didn't have in the beginning. For instance, the leaders of Congress talked about territorial changes. And after some discussion, they finally concluded. An example is when Austria inherited many of the Italian provinces, such as Lombardy, Modena, Parma, Tuscany, and Venetia. Whereas England gained Cape Colony, Ceylon, Heligoland, Guiana, and Malta, which are located in Africa, the Americas, and Asia. Another one is when Prussia gained 40% of Saxony, along with the provinces of Westphalia, Pomerania, a part of Poland, and Swedish. Meanwhile, Holland obtained Austrian Netherland (Belgium). Whereas Russia gained Finland and a part of Poland. And finally when Sweden gained Norway. After these changes were signed it made a huge difference to Europe where the whole land of Europe was entirely different. And it finally felt as if each leader from different nations had the same amount of power, to the point it didn't make them feel threatened to start a war. 

The second accomplishment was by succeeding in establishing the foundation of enduring peace. In my opinion, I believe that it was effective in Europe because by restoring the balance of power among the European states, it restored peace between the nations. It established the foundation of enduring peace between nations in post-Napoleonic Europe. After the signing of territorial changes in Europe, international peace lasted for almost 40 years which is close to a decade. It kept Europe in balance and prevented major European Wars until WWI. Briefly, this is why the second accomplishment was effective across Europe.