The Return to the Throne

This week in history class we learned about the Congress of Vienna and their meetings. We did a small project where we were put the shoes of Clemens von Metternich, the prince of Austria at the time and host of the Congress of Vienna. We were given circumstances for topics that the Congress was actually faced with and were required to make a decision for each problem based on what we thought that Metternich would have done. As we took in each and every factor and made a well-thought hypothesis of what Metternich and the Congress of Vienna chose as a resolution for each topic, we were constantly reminded by an overarching question. This essential question was: what should people in power do when their power is threatened? People in power should give the citizens what they want and provide for them, winning them back and creating security from any thoughts of revolts or having their power in jeopardy.

One topic that was brought before the Congress of Vienna was who was to rule France now. They believed in Principle of Legitimacy, which is to restore lawful monarchs. Metternich and the Congress of Vienna decided to make the brother of Louis XVI, who would rule under the name of Louis XVIII, the new ruler of France. This brought the Bourbon family back to the throne, which eliminated threats of power to those in the Congress of Vienna. It eliminated threats to their power because there would be a monarchy once again and they would achieve Principle of Legitimacy. Also, if they put Napoleon's son at the head of France, the people might revolt or try to achieve what Napoleon did because many of their citizens were on the side of Napoleon. And his son might even free Napoleon and then Napoleon would seize control once again. Napoleon gave the citizens more rights and freedom and a better lifestyle which ultimately decreased the power of the ruler and increased the power of the citizens, but now that they have restored monarchy and the rightful monarchy family, the citizens will lose rights, freedom, and power and then the rulers will regain control once again.

I believe that they made the right decision for themselves but the wrong decision for their citizens, the country of France, and even the world. They should have seen the success of the United States' democracy and copied that idea which would give the citizens’ rights and freedom and they would feel as though they controlled the country even though the government still has control. This would benefit the citizens, the country, and the world but the rulers would have to sacrifice some of their power. It's a small price to pay for so many positive outcomes of this style of rule, which is why the rulers should be able to sacrifice their power because it will save them of any thoughts whatsoever of an uprising. The powerful should be able to sacrifice their power in certain circumstances such as a revolt or in order to form a democracy.