Restoration, Congress of Vienna, Holy Alliance, and Romanticism
The Restoration and the Congress of Vienna
The authors refer to the Restoration as a set of measures aimed at preventing revolutionary ideals. This gave the king absolute power. There was also a need to restore the map of Europe, which, after the defeat of Napoleon, the kings wanted to return to the pre-French Revolution state.
The Congress of Vienna was held to resolve the problems that existed between the victorious powers: Austria, Britain, Prussia, and Russia. This conference addressed two aspects: setting theoretical principles that governed the period of Restoration and reorganizing the map of Europe.
The Holy Alliance and Romanticism
The Holy Alliance was an agreement implemented by the Austrian Minister Metternich. The alliance was composed of troops from Austria, Prussia, and Russia.
Romanticism was a cultural movement that expressed itself in the arts, philosophy, and political and social ideas. Its origins are found in poets and writers in England and Germany in the late 18th century, but its development occurred after the French Revolution. Political ideologies guided the brushes and pens, and artists of all disciplines expressed their convictions. Romanticism had emerged, a movement with strong political overtones and an exaltation of feelings. Nature held enormous significance, especially in reference to the feeling of man’s smallness before it. Overflowing passions, strong feelings, and unhappy love affairs were relevant to the romantics. They also expressed a search for the cultural roots of nations.
Influence of Romanticism on Political Thought
The ideas of political thought in Romanticism influenced the first decades of the 19th century. This influence was noted in:
- The building of political utopias
- The image of the revolution and revolutionaries
- New ways of understanding the people and the nation, which impacted nationalist movements after 1830
Romanticism entailed a rejection of rationalism and a vindication of emotion, excitement, and spirit. It represented the revolt of the young against the old and the burning desire for the unattainable. Its strength came from young, dissatisfied artists and students, and in general, from ideals of change.
Critique of Bourgeois Society
The romantic critique of bourgeois society focused on the idea of the *alienation* of humanity as a result of the new economic and social order. It lamented the loss of harmony between man and nature, replaced by competition and the breakdown of social ties. The Middle Ages functioned as a model of utopias, perfect societies designed to solve the evils that were being criticized.
The Romantic Idea of Revolution
The romantic idea of revolution and the revolutionary was created after 1830. For romantics, the town was formed by the peasant and the preindustrial artisan. The town was, for them, an idealized figure: eternal and wise. The claim of universal suffrage was a political consequence of this romantic populism, which linked well with the ideals of equality bequeathed by the French Revolution of 1789.
Romanticism and the Concept of Nation
With Romanticism, the nation began to be thought of and felt as an essence, the existing social organization embodied throughout history, which was made evident in the language, culture, and folklore of every people.