The Congress of Vienna: a Failure of Vision

The defeat of Napoleon in 1814 brought to an end 25 years of turmoil and war in Europe. Even the defeated French welcomed the advent of peace, while people throughout Europe, both conservative and liberal, hoped for a new start. 

But the victorious powers that came together in Vienna to set up a framework for peace were preoccupied with security, and ignored the developments – intellectual, social, national and political – that had taken place during those 25 years. 
The system they put in place proved a disappointment to many, and the so-called “Concert of Europe” that was supposed to guarantee it turned into cacophony and conflict.