How successful were the treaties in How successful were the treaties in Vienna and Versailles?Vienna and Versailles?

By: Ameer, Alex, Balint, Harry, Darian

IntroductionIntroduction

--The The Congress of ViennaCongress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Wenzel von Metternich, and of European states chaired by Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815.

- -Its objective was to settle the many issues arising from - -Its objective was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary wars, the Napoleonic Wars, and the French Revolutionary wars, the Napoleonic Wars, and the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire. the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire.

-The -The Treaty of VersaillesTreaty of Versailles was a peace treaty signed at  was a peace treaty signed at the end of World War I. It ended the end of World War I. It ended the war between Germany and the Allied Powers. the war between Germany and the Allied Powers.

- It required Germany to accept sole responsibility for - It required Germany to accept sole responsibility for causing the war, to disarm, make substantial causing the war, to disarm, make substantial territorial concessions and pay heavy reparations to the territorial concessions and pay heavy reparations to the winning countries. winning countries.

Congress of ViennaCongress of Vienna

Members and GoalsMembers and Goals The Congress of Vienna was assembled in September 1814 The Congress of Vienna was assembled in September 1814

with representatives from almost all the states of Europe, with representatives from almost all the states of Europe, however most of the most important decisions were however most of the most important decisions were decided by the four Great Powers triumphant over decided by the four Great Powers triumphant over NapoleonNapoleon

The four powers England, Austria, Russia, and Prussia had The four powers England, Austria, Russia, and Prussia had representation from Castlereagh, Metternich, Alexander I representation from Castlereagh, Metternich, Alexander I and Hardenberg respectivelyand Hardenberg respectively

With the Bourbons restored under Louis XVIII, Talleyrand With the Bourbons restored under Louis XVIII, Talleyrand represented the French represented the French

Planned to reduce the power of France after the defeat of Planned to reduce the power of France after the defeat of Napoleon and maintain peace throughout Europe with a Napoleon and maintain peace throughout Europe with a balance of power.balance of power.

Metternich Talleyrand

Alexander I Castlereagh

Actions of the CongressActions of the Congress The Congress attempted to put a number of strong states The Congress attempted to put a number of strong states

around France to contain itaround France to contain it The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed and the Kingdom The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed and the Kingdom

of Piedmont-Sardinia was restoredof Piedmont-Sardinia was restored The Austrian Empire took up Venetia and Lombardy, and the The Austrian Empire took up Venetia and Lombardy, and the

rest of the Italian states remained divided in papal states and rest of the Italian states remained divided in papal states and small duchies small duchies

The Congress did not attempt to put the Holy Roman Empire The Congress did not attempt to put the Holy Roman Empire together and left the German states relatively divided by together and left the German states relatively divided by forming a German confederation which included parts of forming a German confederation which included parts of Prussia and AustriaPrussia and Austria

Prussia gained territory around the RhinelandPrussia gained territory around the Rhineland The Polish Saxon question existed – due to Metternich’s and The Polish Saxon question existed – due to Metternich’s and

Castlereagh’s fear of Russian and Prussian growth Russia Castlereagh’s fear of Russian and Prussian growth Russia received the Duchy of Warsaw (Poland was not united with received the Duchy of Warsaw (Poland was not united with Russia) and Prussia received two-fifths instead of all of SaxonyRussia) and Prussia received two-fifths instead of all of Saxony

Map of EuropeMap of Europe

Results/SuccessResults/Success Maintained a conservative balance of power in EuropeMaintained a conservative balance of power in Europe As a result national and liberal impulses were ignored and As a result national and liberal impulses were ignored and

conservative forms of government remainedconservative forms of government remained Prevented the occurrence of a major European war for Prevented the occurrence of a major European war for

practically a century (WWI)practically a century (WWI) Europe was mainly undisturbed for almost 40 years until Europe was mainly undisturbed for almost 40 years until

the revolutions of 1848the revolutions of 1848 Overall very successful in maintaining European stabilityOverall very successful in maintaining European stability

The Treaty of Versailles: The The Treaty of Versailles: The Treaty ItselfTreaty Itself

The terms of the treaty required Germany The terms of the treaty required Germany among other things to accept among other things to accept demilitarization, pay demilitarization, pay 226 billion 226 billion Reichsmarks in gold Reichsmarks in gold and to surrender and to surrender occupation of the Rhineland as well as that occupation of the Rhineland as well as that Germany accept complete responsibility Germany accept complete responsibility for initiating World War I. for initiating World War I.

Economic Result: InflationEconomic Result: Inflation

The burdensome reparations, coupled with a The burdensome reparations, coupled with a general inflationary period in Europe in the general inflationary period in Europe in the 1920s, caused spiraling hyperinflation of the 1920s, caused spiraling hyperinflation of the German Reichsmark by 1923.German Reichsmark by 1923.

This hyperinflationary period combined with the This hyperinflationary period combined with the effects of the Great Depression (beginning in effects of the Great Depression (beginning in 1929) seriously to undermine the stability of the 1929) seriously to undermine the stability of the German economy, wiping out the personal German economy, wiping out the personal savings of the middle class and spurring massive savings of the middle class and spurring massive unemployment. unemployment.

Social Result: OutrageSocial Result: Outrage

The economic effects of the treaty The economic effects of the treaty exacerbated the social unrest of the exacerbated the social unrest of the German population, who were German population, who were already bitter about certain aspects already bitter about certain aspects of the treaty such as the “War Guilt of the treaty such as the “War Guilt Clause”Clause”

An Ominous FutureAn Ominous Future Revision of the Treaty represented one of the Revision of the Treaty represented one of the

platforms that gave radical right wing parties in platforms that gave radical right wing parties in Germany, including Hitler's Nazi Party, such Germany, including Hitler's Nazi Party, such credibility to mainstream voters in the 1920s and credibility to mainstream voters in the 1920s and early 1930s. early 1930s.

Promises to rearm, to reclaim German territory, Promises to rearm, to reclaim German territory, particularly in the East, to remilitarize the particularly in the East, to remilitarize the Rhineland, and to regain prominence again Rhineland, and to regain prominence again among world powers after humiliating defeat among world powers after humiliating defeat stoked ultranationalist sentiment and caused stoked ultranationalist sentiment and caused voters to overlook the more radical tenets of Nazi voters to overlook the more radical tenets of Nazi ideology.ideology.

Created a network of feeble states on her eastern Created a network of feeble states on her eastern frontier (thus making another bid inevitable) frontier (thus making another bid inevitable)

Conclusion: Treaty of ViennaConclusion: Treaty of Vienna

The Treaty of Vienna was the end of The Treaty of Vienna was the end of Napoleon’s conquest through Europe.Napoleon’s conquest through Europe.

It effectively ended such wide scale It effectively ended such wide scale war for the next 100 years.war for the next 100 years.

It restored Europe to the way it was It restored Europe to the way it was Pre-Napoleon, and created a balance Pre-Napoleon, and created a balance of power.of power.

It was created with all of the nations’ It was created with all of the nations’ best interest in mind.best interest in mind.

Conclusion: Treaty of VersaillesConclusion: Treaty of Versailles

Unlike the Treaty of Vienna, Versailles Unlike the Treaty of Vienna, Versailles failed to keep war away from Europe.failed to keep war away from Europe.

It was written to punish Germany more It was written to punish Germany more than it was to create a stable Europe or than it was to create a stable Europe or prevent further war.prevent further war.

20 years after Versailles was signed war 20 years after Versailles was signed war was broke out across Europe.was broke out across Europe.

The harsh punishments lead other The harsh punishments lead other countries to over look Germany’s countries to over look Germany’s advancements towards war.advancements towards war.

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

The Treaty of Vienna was successful The Treaty of Vienna was successful in preventing war for 100 years by in preventing war for 100 years by creating a fair and stable Europe.creating a fair and stable Europe.

The Treaty of Versailles was focused The Treaty of Versailles was focused on punishment and instead created on punishment and instead created an environment for the creation of an environment for the creation of war.war.