Politics in Nineteenth Century Europe

Standard(s) of Learning

Content

Explain that the French Revolution left a powerful legacy for world history: secular society, nationalism, and democratic ideas.

Summarize the legacy of Napoleon, using the following information as a guide:
•    Unsuccessful attempt to unify Europe under French domination                                       
•    Napoleonic Code
•    Awakened feelings of national pride and inspired growth of nationalism                           

Explain that the Congress of Vienna attempted to restore Europe as it had been before the French Revolution and Napoleonic conquests.

Summarize the significance of the Congress of Vienna, using the following information as a guide:
•    “Balance of power” doctrine
•    Restoration of monarchies
•    New political map of Europe                                                                                         
•    New political philosophies (liberalism, conservatism)

Explain that the rise of nationalism was a powerful force behind European politics during the nineteenth century.                                                                                                                             

Explain that widespread demands for political rights led to revolutions and legislative actions in Europe.

Explain that national pride, economic competition, and democratic ideals stimulated the growth of nationalism.                                                                                                                        

Explain that the terms of the Congress of Vienna led to widespread discontent in Europe.
Unsuccessful revolutions of 1848 increased nationalistic tensions.                                    

Explain that, in contrast to continental Europe, Great Britain expanded political rights through legislative means and made slavery illegal in the British Empire.                                                            

Sample Resources

Below is an annotated list of Internet resources for this organizing topic. Copyright restrictions may exist for the material on some Web sites. Please note and abide by any such restrictions.

 “The Civil Code.” The Napoleon Series. <http://www.napoleon-series.org/research/government/c_code.html>. This site provides brief background and an English translation of the Napoleonic Code.

Encyclopedia of 1848 Revolutions. Ohio University. <http://www.ohiou.edu/~Chastain/contents.htm>. This site contains many articles about various events and figures of the 1848 revolutions.

“Europe After the Congress of Vienna, 1815.” George Mason University <http://chnm.gmu.edu/revolution/d/437/> This site contains a  map of Europe, depicting the boundaries of countries within Europe after the Congress of Vienna.

“Napoleon.” Revolution and After: Tragedies and Farces. Washington State University. <http://www.wsu.edu:8000/~dee/REV/NAPOLEAN.HTM>. This site provides information on Napoleon and the Congress of Vienna.

Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments for the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning: History and Social Science Released Items for World History II. Virginia Department of Education, 2003/04. <http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/Release2003/History/VA-RIBs_g11wh2-1.pdf>.

Virginia Standards of Learning Assessments for the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning. World History and Geography: 1500 a.d. to the Present. Test Blueprint. Virginia Department of Education, 2003/04. <http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/HistoryBlueprints03/2002Blueprint7WHI.pdf>. This site provides assessment information for World History and Geography: 1500 a.d. to the Present.

“What was the Congress of Vienna?”  The Napoleon Series. <http://www.pvhs.chico.k12.ca.us/~bsilva/projects/congress/vienessy.html>. This site presents the causes, events, and results of the Congress of Vienna.