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Politics in Nineteenth Century Europe
Session 1:
The Napoleonic Code and the Congress of Vienna
Materials
- Internet (or print) access to resources on the Napoleonic Code and the Congress of Vienna
- Map of Europe just before Congress of Vienna
- Map of Europe just after Congress of Vienna
Instructional Activities
NOTE: The following Web resources may be helpful in teaching this session:
• “The Civil Code.” Napoleonic Code.
<http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/government/c_code.html>.
• “What was the Congress of Vienna?” <http://www.pvhs.chico.k12.ca.us/~bsilva/projects/congress/vienessy.html>.
• “Europe After the Congress of Vienna, 1815.”
<http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/437/>.
- Introduce the Napoleonic Code by asking students if they can remember any other law codes in history. Possible responses may include Hammurabi’s Code, the Ten Commandments, and the Law Code of Justinian.
- Direct students to find several characteristics of the Napoleonic Code from available resources. Allow them to search the Internet if possible. Characteristics may include that the code was pro business especially on contracts and discriminated against women.
- Instruct students to annotate a map or develop a chart to identify other legacies of Napoleon. The complete chart or map should include nationalism and educational reforms.
- Discuss the Congress of Vienna of 1815. Explain that this was a meeting of the victorious powers after Napoleon’s exile, and decisions the participants had to make included the following:
• Whether to keep Napoleon’s reforms or undo many of them
• How to redraw the map of Europe after Napoleon's military conquests.
- Describe some of the individuals, such as Talleyrand or Alexander I, Czar of Russia. Instruct students to reenact the Congress of Vienna, after conducting research on the process.
- Locate a map that depicts how Europe was redrawn, and note changes. Explain that absolute monarchies were placed back on the thrones, a practice that represented the doctrine of conservatism. Review the meanings of conservatism and liberalism, and relate these philosophies to the balance of power that resulted from the Congress of Vienna. Explain that conservatism is characterized by a desire for little or no change, or a return to old values; liberalism is characterized by change. Explain that these are the legacies of the Congress of Vienna.
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