IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : History Of Modern Europe (Mid 18th to 20th Centuries)- EUROPEAN POLITICAL MOBILIZATIONS

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

History Of Modern Europe Mid 18th to Mid 20th Centuries

EUROPEAN POLITICAL MOBILIZATIONS

Structure

6.0 Objectives
6.1 Introduction
6.2 The Congress System and its Fallout
6.3 The Secret Society Movement
6.4 Revolutionary Movements of the 1820s and the 1830s
6.5 Nationalist Movements
6.6 Revolutions of 1848
6.7 Aftermath of the Revolutionary Movements
6.8 Let Us Sum Up
6.9 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

6.0 OBJECTIVES

After reading this Unit, you will be able to understand :

the logic behind the formation of the Congress system and what happened thereafter,
the developments leading to the secret society movements and the revolutionary
uprisings in the 1820s and the 1830s,
the emergence of nationalist movements in various parts of Europe, and
the background of the revolutions of 1848 and its consequences.

6.1 INTRODUCTION

In the name of stability and peace the great powers of Europe-Austria, Russia, Prussia and
England, were engaged in redrawing the political map of Europe after the fall of Napoleon
I. Through a system of alliances which came to be known as the 'Concert of Europe' the
great powers agreed to consult each other in order to maintain the peace of Europe.
Attempt was made to restore the old monarchical order in Europe. However, nationalism
and liberalism had already emerged as powerful forces in the 19Ih century Europe. This
resulted in revolutionary'movements challenging the authority of the monarchical rule.
The period between 18 15 and 1848 witnessed a number of such revolutionary movements
in Europe. With the revolutions major treaties were overturned, conservative solidarity
was eroded. This Unit first introduces you to the system of alliances and its consequences.
Then it takes into account the secret society movements and the revolutions of the 1820s
and the 1830s. Finally we have discussed emergence of the nationalist movements and the
revolution of 1848.

6.2 THE CONGRESS SYSTEM AND ITS FALLOUT

In 181 5, at the Congress of Vienna, the-protagonists of the old European order, inspired by
the Austrian Chancellor, Count Metternich, tried to create a permanent barrier against
national and liberal movements. Popularly known as the Metternich system, the origins of
this system of alliances can be traced from the Holy Alliance, brought together by Tsar
Alexander I, and its rival, the Quadruple Alliance, which was a British creation to
counteract the Tsar. These two different systems of alliances set the stage for what came to
be known as the Congress system, which in the period after 1815, envisaged a series of
international congresses of the great powers to decide on European issues and problems.
After 18 18, following the Congress of Aix-la-Chappelle, there was a growing inclination
towards great power intervention in the domestic politics of a country threatened by liberal
movements. At the Congreqs of Aix-la-Chapelle, French territory was evacuat-d and