Contributions/ Role Of European Powers In The Dowfall Of The Congress System

 1) Britain (Lord Stewart Castlereagh and George Canning)
I) Britain was primarily responsible for the collapse of the congress system. 
She pursued a policy of isolation from continental obligations i.e. non 
interventionist foreign policy. The policy was to avoid unnecessary 
expenses, loss of her citizens in suppressing revolutions and negative public 
opinion in case of failures. The policy was unfortunate for the congress 
system because it was Britain that played the greatest role in the dawn fall 
of Napoleon and her role in the post Napoleonic re-organization of Europe 
was therefore of paramount importance. Above all, Britain was the most 
politically stable state and the greatest economic and military power in 
Europe. The British isolation therefore denied the congress system of her 
enormous economic resources and military power that could have 
improved the capacity of the congress system to meet its challenges. Herisolation gave Metternich an added advantage to impose his 
conservative, anti; liberal and nationalistic policies on Europe against 
smaller states. This led to the outbreak of revolutionary movements in 1820's 
that destabilized Europe and divided the Congress powers, thus leading to 
the downfall of the congress system.
ii). Britain is blamed for her moral and logistical support to liberal and 
nationalistic movements in Greece, Spain, Naples, Argentina, Italian and 
German states. Being a liberal and democratic state where respect for 
fundamental human rights and freedom were adhered to, Britain did not 
see any sense in suppressing revolutions that were intended to overthrow 
oppressive, exploitative and tyrannical leaders. Lord Castlereagh made it 
very clear in his state paper which was published in 1820 that:
... Britain owed her present dynasty and constitution to an internal 
revolution. She could not therefore deny to other countries the same right 
of changing their form of government (Grant and Temperleys, PP 142 - 143).
This explains why Britain opposed the idea of suppressing revolutions right 
from the Congress of
Aix-la-Chapelle as interference in to the internal affairs of other nations. It 
antagonized Britain with Austria, Prussia and Russia who favoured the policy 
of suppressing revolutions hence the collapse of the Congress system.
iii). Britain supported the Monroe doctrine against the interest of other 
congress powers. In Dec 1823, President Monroe of America issued the 
famous Monroe doctrine in which he warned other powers against 
intervention on American affairs especially on matters related to the 
Spanish colonies.
George Canning of Britain overwhelmingly supported the doctrine against 
Russia, France, Prussia and Austria who had declared their intension to help 
Spain recover her colonies that she had lost as a result of the 1823 
revolution. Besides, Britain threatened to fight any power that would cross 
the Atlantic Ocean to South America be it in Spain or France irrespective 
of the motive. This left the rest of the congress powers frustrated, defeated 
the principle of intervention, and tore the congress system further apart.
iv). George Canning of Britain officially withdrew British membership of the 
congress system in 1823.
Britain was committed to alliance system mainly to safeguard her 
commercial interest against French and Napoleonic aggressions. Thisthreat ended with the defeat of Napoleon and admission of France in the 
congress system, leaving Britain uncommitted to congress affairs thereafter. 
The French intervention in Spain in 1823 gave George Canning the 
opportunity to officially withdraw British membership to the congress system 
at the congress of Verona. He considered the French restoration of 
Ferdinand VII to his throne in Spain as “…. an affront to the pride of 
England," He further commented that: The issue of Verona has split the one 
and indivisible alliance and so things are getting back to a whole some 
state again, every nation for itself and God for us all.
He concluded that "Praise God that there would be no more Congresses" 
and resorted to the policy of every nation for itself and God for us all. This 
was the practical disintegration of the congress system.
v). After withdrawing from the congress system, Britain declined to review 
her policy. She refused to participate in the 1824 congress that was called 
by Ferdinand VII of Spain to settle the issue of
Spanish colonies, which made the intended congress to abort. She also 
declined to attend the 1825 congress of St. Petersburg that was called by 
Tsar Nicholas I to settle the question of the Greek struggle for 
independence. This frustrated Russian intension to peacefully address the 
question of Greek independence and gave opportunity for escalation of 
violence that left European powers more divided.
vi). Britain openly rejected the Troppau protocol that was declared by 
Austria, Prussia and Russia. In 1820, the three powers at the congress of 
Troppau passed the Troppau protocol in which they pledged to suppress 
revolutions whenever and wherever they occurred. Lord Stewart 
Castlereagh argued that such a measure would frustrate genuine internal 
struggle to overthrow oppressive, exploitative and autocratic rulers. He was 
so furious when he addressed the British parliament that he sarcastically 
declared the protocol "a destitute of common sense" and argued the 
concerned powers to confine the congress system within the limits of 
common sense. This weakened the principle of intervention and provoked 
liberal and nationalistic revolutions in smaller states that became a 
challenge leading to the downfall of the Congress System.
vii). Britain had long term negative feelings and hatred for Russia and 
Austria. She disliked Russia for her imperialism in the Middle East and the 
Mediterranean Sea because it threatened her commercial interest. She 
hated Austria because Metternich had dominated Europe and centralized 
European affairs in Vienna. George Canning wanted European affairs tobe centralized and settled in London than Vienna (Austria). In other words, 
Canning wanted to hijack the balance of power from Austria in order to 
consolidate British supremacy in European affairs. The British preconceived 
hatred and negative feelings against Russia and Austria led to unnecessary 
disagreements involving her and other powers such as the issues of joint 
army, piracy, slave trade, Spanish revolution and Greek independence. It 
thus led to mistrust, suspicion and disharmony that doomed the Congress 
system.
viii). Britain was a big force behind the Vienna congress which laid a poor 
foundation for the congress system. The congress unfairly restored the most 
oppressive and dictatorial rulers and undermined the forces of liberalism 
and nationalism of the smaller states. She was also a signatory of the 
quadruple alliance that set foundation for discrimination of the smaller 
states. Above all, Britain manipulated the Congress to gain too much 
territory to the annoyance of Russia and Prussia.
These became a very weak foundation on which the congress system was 
built and thus contributed to its eventual collapse.
ix). The British selfish desire to safeguard her economic interest ejected her 
out of the Congress system. She had a hidden agenda of using the 
congress system to protect her trade zone and acquire more territories for 
her merchants. However, her interest in the Middle East and
Mediterranean Sea was threatened by Russian imperialism and influence in 
the area. This left
Britain that had initially opposed the Greek war of independence to turn 
round and support the Greeks alongside Russia when she noted that the 
success of the struggle was inevitable. She did this because Russia's 
assistance in establishing a new Greek state on the map of Europe would 
be a serious setback to her commercial interest in the Middle East and 
Mediterranean Sea. She also supported the Monroe doctrine and warned 
other powers not to cross the Atlantic Ocean to suppress the revolution in 
Spain because her trade with Latin American states had drastically 
improved since Ferdinand YD was ousted from power. Thus, British selfish 
economic interest conflicted with common interest that the congress 
system was to promote leading to its down fall by 1825.
x). Britain opposed and vetoed the idea of forming a Joint international 
army at the congress of Aix -La Chapalle in 1818. Fredrick William III of Prussia 
had proposed the formation of a joint army based in Brussels to suppressrevolutions, Lord Costlereagh rejected it that it would amount to interfering 
in the internal affairs of other states. It left the congress system without a 
force to implement its resolutions, which encouraged smaller states like 
Italy, Spain, Naples and Greece to wage a struggle for their freedom 
without fear. Absence of a joint army weakened the congress system and 
made it more theoretical than practical hence accounting for its downfall.
xi) Lastly, Britain's desire to safeguard her naval supremacy, also contributed 
to the downfall of the congress system. At the congress of Aix - La Chapalle 
(1818), Tsar Alexander I of Russia suggested a joint military operation in the 
Mediterranean Sea to fight Sea pirates. This was out rightly rejected by 
Castlereagh who feared that the presence of Russian warships in the 
Mediterranean sea would be a big challenge to her naval supremacy and 
monopoly of the sea. It should be noted that pirates were not a big threat 
to Britain because they feared and respected British ships contrary to those 
of other powers.
This therefore left a legacy of suspicion and intense bitterness in other 
powers against Britain that made the collapse of the congress system 
inevitable.
2. Austria (Francis II and Prince Metternich)
i). Austria hosted the Vienna congress that laid a shaky foundation, which 
led to the collapse of the congress system. Prince Metternich who chaired 
the congress manipulated the congress to restore unpopular legitimate 
rulers and maintained them by suppressing revolutionary movements 
against them. He also influenced the congress to undermine nationalistic 
and liberal feelings of the smaller states by subjecting them to foreign 
domination. This consolidated conservation and led to the outbreak of 
liberal and nationalistic revolutions that undermined the Congress system. 
Besides, Metternich's desire to maintain Austria's supremacy and Vienna as 
the diplomatic theatre of Europe angered Britain and partly influenced 
George Canning to withdraw Britain's membership from the congress 
system.
ii) Austria is blamed for her imperialism and domination of the smaller states. 
She used the Vienna congress to dominate European affairs and smaller 
states e.g. Italians and Germans. It promoted imbalance of power that 
other powers did not admire. Her domination of the smaller states triggered 
nationalistic protests such as the 1820's revolts in Naples and piedmont that 
divided the congress powers. It should be stressed that Austria's suppression 
of such revolts and restoration of ousted kings was authorized by thecongress of Laibach (1822) amidst British opposition, which partly 
influenced Britain to pull out of the congress system by 1823.i
iii) Austria was influential in issuing the 1820 Troppau Protocol in which 
Prussia, Russia and herself vowed to suppress revolutions and restore ousted 
kings in Europe. The spread of liberalism and nationalism was a formidable 
threat to the heterogeneous Austrian empire as they would trigger 
nationalistic movements that could break the empire into pieces. This 
background made her influence Prussia and Russia to issue the Troppau 
protocol, which Britain rejected out rightly and France accepted with 
reservations. This widened the gap between liberal countries (Britain and 
France) Vis-a Vis conservative states (Prussia, Russia and Austria), thus 
leading to the collapse of the congress system.
iv) Austria's conservative ideology dragged her to oppose the granting of 
the Greek independence. She supported Turkish autocratic rule over the 
Greeks and opposed the Greek struggle for freedom from the congress of 
Verona up to the end of the congress system. It brought her into conflict 
with Russia, Britain and France who assisted the Greeks to attain their 
independence. This explains why no more congress was held after the 
heated debate at the congress of St. Petersburg where Austria and Prussia 
protested to Russian, British and French assistance to the Greeks.
v)Austria is also blamed for her opposition to the formation of a joint naval 
force to right slave dealers.
Castleragh proposed this idea at the congress of Aix - Lachapalle in 1818 
but Austria rejected it on suspicion that it would give Britain more power to 
support revolutionary movements in other states.
This undermined the spirit of cooperation and togetherness that was 
essential for the survival of the congress system.
vi).Austrian influence through the Metternich system made the downfall of 
the congress system inevitable. Metternich manipulated the congress 
system to consolidate Austria's supremacy, promote conservatism and 
suppress the revolutionary forces of liberty, equality and fraternity. He used 
the congress system to enhance his oppressive anti; liberal and nationalistic 
policies of press censorship, spy net work, divide and rule, force etc. This 
could not be tolerated after the rise of Charles X in France, George 
Canning in Britain and Tsar Nicholas I in Russia. These new generations of 
leaders were opposed to conservative Metternich policies and influence 
over the congress system. No wonder that they sympathized and supportedliberal struggles such as in Greece against Metternich's expectation. This 
killed the congress spirit and brought the congress system to an end.
3.Russia (Tsar Alexander 1, 1801-1825,and Tsar Nicholas1, 1825-1855)
Russia was part of the unrealistic Vienna Congress and the Troppau 
Protocol that consolidated
Metternich's conservatism against the forces of liberalism and nationalism. 
The Vienna Congress discriminated small states and restored oppressive 
and unpopular kings to their thrones. The 1820 Troppau protocol brought 
Russia, Austria and Prussia in alliance to defend oppressive rulers that Britain 
rejected and France accepted reluctantly. All these led to tension in 
Europe and undermined the congress system leading to its downfall.
Russia's imperial ambitions in the Balkans were also responsible for the 
downfall of the congress system. Her desire to take control of the Balkans 
by supporting nationalistic movements brought her into logger heads with 
Austria and Britain. Austria protested such support because it would spark 
off nationalistic movements within her heterogeneous empire. Britain 
objected because it would undermine her commercial interest in the 
Middle East. Thus, Russian imperialism in the Balkans threatened the interest 
of other powers and brought disharmony that led to the downfall of the 
congress system.
iii).Russia was the first power to support the Greek war of independence, 
which is an event that accelerated the downfall of the congress system. 
She incited the Greeks against Turkey and proceeded to support them 
militarily. Although Britain and France initially opposed Russia's secret 
assistance to the Greeks, Russia's continued assistance and the high 
prospects of Greek success made them to change their mind and join 
Russia to assist the Greeks. This was a desperate measure by Britain to 
safeguard her economic interest and France to safeguard her religious 
motives against Russia's threatening influence. On the other hand, Austria 
and Prussia opposed such assistance including the granting of 
independence to the Greeks. Thus, Russia's support to the Greeks divided 
the congress powers into two and caused its collapse.
iv.) Russia's ambitions to challenge Britain's naval supremacy brought 
disharmony between her and Britain. She provoked Britain's suspicion by 
stationing her warships in the Mediterranean Sea. Tsar Alexander I went 
ahead at the congress of Aix - Lachapalle to propose the formation of a 
joint force to fight pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. This was rejected byLord Stewart Castlereagh as a move to strengthen Russian influence in the 
Mediterranean Sea in order to challenge Britain's supremacy.
Indeed, British suspicion to Russia's challenge to her naval superiority was 
too deep rooted that she could not accept her (Russia's) noble call to fight 
pirates that was a common threat to trade across the Mediterranean Sea.
v) The death of Tsar Alexander I in 1825 led to the rise of Tsar Nicholas I 
whose attitude and policies buried the congress system. Tsar Nicholas I was 
too proud, arrogant and confident in Russia's military strength that he felt 
insulted to be restrained in his foreign policy. He developed a more
aggressive and interventionist foreign policy that was reflected in his 
determination to assist the Greeks against Turkey. Besides his inexperience 
and narrow/little knowledge of European affairs, Tsar Nicholas I was not one 
of the historical founders of the Congress system and thus cared little for its 
existence. His character and support of the Greeks was seriously protested 
by Prussia and Austria at the congress of St. Petersburg and ended in total 
confusion. This destroyed the congress spirit and there were no more 
congress held thereafter.
4. Prussia (Fredrick William III)
i) Prussia is blamed for being a signatory to the Vienna settlement and the 
Troppau protocol. The Vienna resolutions and the Troppau protocol 
consolidated conservatism and undermined the spirit of liberalism and 
nationalism in Europe. The principle of intervention that Prussia supported in 
the protocol was unacceptable to Britain and small powers that were 
oppressed. It brought liberal and nationalistic protests that divided the 
congress powers leading to the disintegration of the congress system.
ii).Fredrick William III joined other powers in opposing Castlereagh's proposal 
for a joint operation to stop slave trade at the congress of Aix - La -
Chapalle. This left Castlereagh frustrated and partly forced her to resort to 
her usual policy of isolation that led to the collapse of the congress system.
iii).Prussia opposed the Greek war of independence and the granting of 
Geek independence. This brought her into conflict with Russia, Britain and 
France who were assisting the Greeks to regain their independence. Prussia 
allied with Austria and stood against supporting the Greeks and the 
granting of Greek independence at the congress of St. Petersburg .
5. France (Louis XVIII, 1814-1824 and Charles X, 1824-1830)
i). France was the source of revolutionary ideas of liberty, equality and 
fraternity. These ideas were consolidated by Napoleonic influence on 
Europe and led to the rise of the spirit of liberalism and nationalism in 
Europe. They led to the outbreak of revolutions such as the 1820's 
movements in Spain, Naples and Greece. This brought conflict between 
the congress powers hence leading to the downfall of the congress system.
ii).The admission of France in the congress system at the congress of Aix -
La- Chapalle in 1818 contributed to the downfall of the congress system. It 
brought reconciliation between France and other powers and ended the 
danger of French aggression in Europe. It undermined the unity of purpose 
and the spirit of togetherness that had brought European powers together 
in defense against revolutionary and Napoleonic aggressions. It also 
provided Britain with an opportunity to concentrate on her own internal 
problems and pursue the policy of splendid isolation. Besides, France was 
not fully trusted and thus treated with suspicion by the quadruple powers 
most especially Russia. This undermined the spirit of trust, cooperation, 
harmony and unity that led to the downfall of the congress system.
iii). France is blamed for getting entangled in the Greek war of 
independence alongside Britain and Russia. As a great Christian state, 
France felt that Russian's unilateral assistance to the Greeks would make 
her dominant in the Balkans and jeopardize her religious interest. It is this 
that drove her to join Russia and Britain to assist the Greeks. This move was 
however protested by Prussia and Austria leading to the collapse of the 
congress system.
iv). It was Bishop Tallyrand, the French representative at the Vienna 
Congress who initiated the unrealistic principle of legitimacy. Richelieu, the 
French representative in the congress system continued to advocate for 
the restoration and maintenance of dictatorial, oppressive and 
conservative kings in Europe. It left the congress system as an alliance to 
promote conservatism, oppression and exploitation of the smaller states. 
This earned the congress system enormous unpopularity that could not 
make it exist beyond 1825.
Louis XVI's suppression of the Spanish revolution and restoration of 
Ferdinand to his throne is what ejected Britain out of the congress system. 
By 1823, Spanish revolutionaries had overthrown Ferdinand VII from his 
throne. At the congress of Verona in 1822, Britain objected to any attempt 
to restore Ferdinand VD to his throne. However, France was permitted by 
other powers to suppress the revolution and restore Ferdinand back to histhrone, which she accomplished in 1823. George Canning Was so disturbed 
by the French action that he lamented:
The issue of Spain has split the one and indivisible alliance and so things are 
getting back to a whole same state again, every nation for itself and God 
for us all.
He consequently withdrew Britain from the congress system that became 
the biggest blow, which led to the down fall of the congress system.
6. USA (President Monroe)
President Monroe of USA issued the famous Monroe doctrine that split the 
congress powers and led to the downfall of the congress system. On 
December 1823, he issued the doctrine where he warned that any 
interference by European powers on American soil would be regarded “ as 
manifestation of an unfriendly disposition to the United States”. (H.L 
Peacock, A history of modern Europe, 7th ' Edition p. 89).This defeated the 
Troppau protocol and the principle of intervention that Austria, Prussia, 
Russia and France wanted to use to restore Ferdinand VII to his throne. It 
was fully supported by Britain against other congress powers hence splitting 
the congress powers and enhancing the downfall of the congress system.
Spain (Ferdinand VII)
Ferdinand VII is blamed for his exploitative, oppressive and tyrannical rule 
that triggered a revolution, which divided the congress powers. Besides, 
Spain had imperial influence in Latin America.
However; Spanish revolutionaries overthrew him and his colonies in America 
regained their independence. The issue brought a heated disagreement 
at the congress of Verona where Britain vehemently opposed the attempt 
by other powers to restore Ferdinand to his throne. When France went 
ahead to restore Ferdinand to his throne in 1823, George Canning pulled 
Britain out of the congress system. He later supported the Monroe doctrine 
that scared the congress powers, from suppressing the revolution in Spain 
and restoring Ferdinand VII to his throne. This became a big challenge to 
the principle of intervention and contributed to the downfall of the  congress system.