How far do you agree with the statement that the security not revenge of Europe was the main concern at the congress of Vienna?

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How far do you agree with the statement that the security not revenge of Europe was the main concern at the congress of Vienna?

The delegates at the Congress of Vienna were motivated to a large degree by the desire to benefit Europe as a whole, and this is reflected in their purpose in calling the Congress together and the settlement they reached. National interest was modified for the sake of the general interest of Europe. Their primary and main concern was the safety of Europe and to insure peace.

The Congress of Vienna was held in order to draw up a plan to alter Europe politically and territorially so as to prevent the expansion of any one great power, which Napoleon had been doing during the Napoleonic wars. Creating a balance of power among the powerful nations of Europe was also one of the main interests, as was reinstating monarchical regimes, containing France and reaching an agreement to cooperate with each other if the terms of the treaty were broken or violated in any way.

Although the separate ambitions of the victors at the Congress to gain territory were mostly driven by self- interest, they were forced to compromise in order to establish a balance of power, which was accepted and wanted by all major powers. Alexander I wanted desperate to get a footstep into Europe and he felt that Russia was owed all of Poland while Prussia, Russia’s closest ally, had rights to Saxony. In the final settlement, however, Russia had to share claim to Poland with Austria and Prussia, and Prussia received only half of Saxony with additional territories in the Rhineland as compensation. In this way, national interest was modified for the sake of maintaining the balance of power, which was in the general interest of Europe and it also created a buffer on the eastern side of France. This was part of the plan to contain France, in order to be better prepared for a future war.

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The other spoils were distributed in order to create a buffer against France. The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed, Prussia acquired part of the Rhineland, Switzerland regained independence and the right to neutrality and Austria dominated Northern Italy according to the terms of the settlement, leaving France boxed in and unable to assert itself. Due to the influence of Talleyrand, France received no punishment more severe than containment, and this benefited Europe in that it kept France from becoming too weak and destroying the balance of power. It also was planned like this in order to prevent France seeking ...

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