The State of Europe in the Early 1820s: A Q&A with an Expert

Summary

In the early 1820s, Europe was marked by the struggle between the conservative forces and liberal oppositions. In France, the restored monarchy faced opposition from the liberal movement who tried to broaden the monarchy’s base by dissolving the Chamber of Deputies and replacing it with a new one consisting mainly of large landowners. However, this move was short-lived as the conservatives regained power. In Germany, different factors caused internal dissension among the population. Volunteers returning from the war against Napoleon were disappointed with the hegemony exercised by the princes. Meanwhile, some young students in the Burschenschaft movement thought that replacing individual authoritarian member states with a single national constitution was necessary for true unity. In Spain, King Fernando VII banned the Freemasons and reintroduced the Inquisition, which made it difficult for the government to respond effectively to the insurrections in Spanish America. Finally, Italy experienced similar events of restoration, including the restoration of pre-Napoleonic legal systems. The carbonari, a group of Masonic-style secret societies in southern Italy, rose in revolt against the absolutism leading to a violent situation that ended up involving several countries in Europe.

Table of Contents

• The conflict between the conservatives and liberal movements in France
• Internal dissensions in Germany due to the lack of unity and the differences among the population
• Spain’s struggle between the restoration of the absolute monarchy and liberal constitutionalism
• The challenges to Vienna’s efforts towards conservative programmes and the Holy Alliance by Italian and Spanish revolts

Q&A

Q: What caused the internal dissension in Germany in the early 1820s?
A: There were different factors leading to internal conflicts among the German population. Volunteers who returned from the Napoleonic War were disappointed with the hegemony of the princes in the German Confederation, and some young students in the Burschenschaft movement believed that replacing authoritarian states with a single national constitution was necessary for true unity.

Q: What caused the French liberals to oppose the monarchy in the early 1820s?
A: The French monarchy faced opposition from the liberal movement, which aimed to broaden the monarchy’s base. Élie Decazes attempted to do so by dissolving the Chamber of Deputies and replacing it with a new one largely comprised of large landowners. However, this move was short-lived, and the conservatives soon regained power.

Q: What was the situation in Spain in the early 1820s?
A: Spain was struggling between the restoration of the absolute monarchy and liberal constitutionalism. King Fernando VII had rejected the 1812 constitution and brought back the previous absolutist regime, banned the Freemasons, and reintroduced the Inquisition, which immediately began hunting down heretics. All this made it difficult for the government to respond effectively to the insurrections in Spanish America.

Q: What happened in Italy in the early 1820s?
A: Italy experienced similar events of restoration, including the restoration of pre-Napoleonic legal systems, reinstating aristocratic privileges, and allowing feudalism, leading to the loss of rights for Jews and Protestants. The carbonari, a group of Masonic-style secret societies in southern Italy, rose in revolt against the absolutism, leading to a violent situation that ended up involving several countries in Europe.

Q: What was the Holy Alliance’s agreement at Congresses in Troppau and Laibach?
A: The Holy Alliance agreed to act at Congresses in Troppau and Laibach to support the conservative programmes of Vienna. However, the Italian and Spanish revolts challenged the Alliance’s plan leading to the defeat of the rebels, the exile of the carbonari, and the solidarity of several countries in Europe.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the early 1820s were marked by struggles between the conservatives and liberal forces in Europe. France attempted to broaden its monarchy’s base under Élie Decazes, but it was short-lived, and conservatives regained power. Germany experienced a lack of unity and internal dissension among its people, while Spain struggled to find a balance between the restoration of the absolute monarchy and liberal constitutionalism. Italy experienced similar events, including the restoration of pre-Napoleonic legal systems, and the rise of violent movements like the carbonari. Overall, these events contributed to the shaping of the European political landscape in the early 1820s.