MEH Reading 709-717

The destruction and violence that occurred during the French Revolution had a huge impact on the thinkers of the early nineteenth century.  Men had died in huge numbers for ideals that had never truly come into existence, and Europe had been thrust into turmoil over the passion of one country’s people.  Leaders, such as Metternich, became concerned with making sure nothing of that sort could ever happen again.  They saw revolution as a guaranteed predecessor to war, something they wall wanted to avoid considering the negative economic effects and all the violence that had occurred during the eighteenth century.  Thus, the name of the game for the Congress in Vienna was to establish strong national powers that were not in conflict with each other and had the ability to put down revolution where it arose.  Through this action though, the main European powers sowed the seeds for more resistance.  By attempting to restore strict control over their individual kingdoms, national leaders came into conflict with people who wanted to move forward with political thought.  Through the industrial revolution people had become more in tune with the political scene around them, and had decided to take more of an active role.  The Decembrists in Russia were young military leaders who had helped in the Napoleonic wars and saw themselves as enlightened individuals who could liberate Europe.  Their ideals conflicted with those of the Tsar Nicholas, and their revolution was brutally crushed.  Although European leaders attempted to restore the conservative and dominating presence of government that had once existed in Europe, they also laid the foundations for building revolutionary thought that was helped along by the industrial revolution.