Congress of Vienna 1815

• Goal: Return a balance of power to Europe

• Redrew map of Europe, without taking into account the power of nationalism

• Relative peace in the region for 100 years

Great Britain

• Constitutional monarchy

• Leading power in Europe after Industrial Revolution

• Economic wealth, imperial empire, naval supremacy

• Rivalry with France declines, new focus is Germany

• Had the least to gain from a war in Europe

France

• A republic under Napoleon III

• Many longed for glory days of Napoleon’s empire

• Imperial power• Wanted revenge

against Germany.

Austria-Hungary

• Formed a Dual Monarchy in 1867

• Each had their own constitution and parliament

• Shared defense, finance, and foreign affairs

• Slavic groups within the empire wanted independence

The Balkans

• Known as the “Powder Keg” of Europe

• Nationalist feelings divided the area

• Multiple languages, ethnic groups, religions, and cultures

• Each wanted its own homeland

• Independent states of Serbia and Greece

Ottoman Empire

• It was an empire on the decline

• 1914: German influence in Ottoman foreign policy

• Feared the rise of nationalism and newly independent states

Russia• Absolute Monarchy

(Tsar Nicholas II)• Economy based on

serfdom• Not fully

industrialized• Promoted Pan-

Slavism

Germany

• Congress of Vienna had created the German Confederation made of 6 states

• Otto von Bismarck unified the German states (1871)

• Leading industrial power by 1900

• Military buildup