As time passes by, ideals change; interests change; and everything that had been agreed upon at a start begin to fall apart into pieces. People have different perspectives and wishes, and the Congress System wasn’t any different. The common purpose of this congress was to ensure that Napoleon would never come back again, thus maintaining peace. But with Napoleon across the ocean on St Helena, with no chance of coming back, this common purpose was extinguished. France not being a threat anymore, the powers started to think about their own interest, especially those which concerned the control of Europe. British concern with her economy; Austria’s fear of both France and Russia; France’s attempt to keep herself as one of the Great Powers; Russia’s seek for power in Europe; and Prussia’s concern with French attack, proves their conflicting aims. When there is no common purpose and when each and every one wants something different other than controlling Europe, it’s very hard for an unorganized congress system to succeed.
There was no such thing as a Congress System. Not only because of the conflicting interests of the Great Powers, but also because of the lack of a permanent organization. Without a permanent organization, no material was collected for examination, no agenda was created and no rules were agreed upon; thus making it impossible to achieve and carry out tasks and objectives. For this simple reason one can say that if anything, the Congress System was a mere utopia. The meetings randomly occurred and there was no agreement between the Great Powers as to what the Congresses were for. This proves that with no organizational system and no clear objectives of the Great Powers since the beginning only led to its inevitable failure.
Furthermore, the influence of individuals played a very active role on the fall of the Congress System. In 1825, Tsar Alexander of Russia dies and is succeeded by Nicholas I. The new emperor was indifferent to the Quadruple Alliance, for he did not participate in its creation or its activities. Nicholas I also disliked Metternich, leading him to support Greek revolutionaries, thus going against the Troppau Protocol, since he was actually encouraging revolts instead of oppressing them. Simultaneously, Canning was doing anything he could possibly do to make the Congress System fall apart; for he believed the original purpose of this congress was betrayed by the Great Powers in order to fulfill their own interests. Castlereagh also wished to reduce Metternich’s influence over Europe. Consequently, Canning sent troops to Lisbon in support of the Constitutionalists and rejected Metternich’s call for a five-power conference to discuss Portugal. From this, we see that Britain was committed to act by herself in order to protect her interests, and without the presence of Britain in the decision-making, one of the two leading powers, it made no sense it continuing the Congress System. Once again we see the conflict in interests between the powers and how one individual can change a whole system in no time.
Along with the conflicting aims of the Powers and individuals, internal disagreements, such as those in Greece and Spain, were perhaps the most important reason for the downfall of the Congress system. Let us keep in mind that the original purpose of this congress was to bring peace to Europe, or in more realistic words, to suppress any kind of revolt; anywhere in Europe. At a start, the Powers were very successful, and if they had gone a bit further, perhaps a military dictatorship would have been established. Even so, as time progressed, and the Congress System was nothing more than just a name, the Powers ignored this original purpose and actually encouraged revolts. The Troppau Protocol was ignored when Greek and Spanish revolts took place, again showing that the Congress had no further use in the cause of Europe. Greeks revolted against their Turkish masters, and Metternich feared that Alexander would break the anti-revolutionary cause in order to help their Orthodox Christian friends. In addition, Metternich and Castlereagh feared that the Russia’s would expand into the Turkish Empire. Alexander at first agreed on not breaking the Troppau Protocol, but latter he joined the cause and ignored the protocol. Canning, seeking to limit Russian influence and territory, joins the cause and helps the Greeks to establish self-government. France also agrees to the treaty, only Austria and Prussia do not take part, changing the whole nature of the Great Power relations. In Spain, the revolt developed into a civil war. Both France and Russian were willing to intervene and oppress the revolution, but neither Metternich nor Castlereagh were interested. After Castlereagh committed suicide, Canning replaced him, again changing the course of events, since Canning had no interest on the Congress System for he believed in the rule that ‘every nation for itself.’ Canning did not co-operate on Spain and finally withdrawn from the Congress. Without Britain and without any respect towards their values and interests, the Congress System was reaching its final stage.
The term ‘Congress System’ is vague, and like so many of the ‘systems’ in history, the congress System is probably an invention of historians. Certainly because it was anything but systematic; there was no agreement between the powers on what the congresses were for; and no common purpose was present whatsoever. None of the alliances or treaties were respected, instead were ignored when the Powers wanted to achieved their personal goals. If nothing, the Congress System only brought more chaos and confusion to Europe, with the exception of Greece; almost revived militant Jacobinism; and proved the selfish character of the Great Powers. Since the beginning the conflicting interests of the Great Powers made its failure inevitable; since the beginning the Congress System was destined to fail.
