Concert of Europe

The Concert of Europe was a group of countries in Europe who worked together and agreed on things (also known as an "alliance") between 1814 and 1914.

The member countries were the United Kingdom, Austria, Russia and Prussia (no longer a country). After Napoleon, ruler of France, was no longer in power, France joined the Concert of Europe.

Leaders

The leaders of this concert include:

• British Foreign Secretary - Lord Castlereagh
• Austrian Chancellor - Prince Klemenz von Metternich
• Russian Czar - Alexander I

The Concert was also known as the Congress System, where leaders would meet and reach decisions by mutual agreement. It eventually would change names and more countries joined to form The League of Nations.

Goals

Important goals of the Concert:

• control France after many years of war
• develop a "balance of power" among the nations of Europe
• uphold the agreements set by the Congress of Vienna (1814-1815)
• prevent another dictator from gaining too much power (like Napoleon)

Benefits:

• helped Greece and Belgium gain independence
• helped end the eight-year Egyptian control of Syria

Decline:

• Fell apart after years of disagreement between the countries
• Mainly between Great Britain (England) and the other conservative countries in the Concert
• Finally fell after the following wars: Crimean War, Italian War for Independence, Austro-Prussian War and the Franco-Prussian War.