Balancing in Vienna

What should people in power do when their power is threatened? This is a broad question but to try to answer it we looked at some examples of this problem. In class we learned about Klemens von Metternich and his relationship with Napoleon. We watched a clip of a movie where Metternich and Napoleon had a meeting were Metternich was seeking peace with Napoleon in Dresden. Then as a class we discussed the Congress of Vienna and viewed a interactive map of the changes in Europe and the land boundaries of that time. By the end of the class, after looking at all these activities, we had a good idea on what people do to protect their power.

Klemens von Metternich  source- http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Prince_Metternich_by_Lawrence.jpeg

When powerful people feel like their power is being threatened they will first fight to keep their power, and then create a balance of power that so no one will try to take over and threaten their own power again. As we learned from our sources in class, Metternich, who is an official from Austria, power is being threatened by Napoleons conquests. Other big powers in Europe such as Prussia and Russia, were feeling threatened as well. Surrounding countries held The Congress of Vienna to try to make peace. After a long battle Napoleon was finally exiled to Elba then Saint Helena. The Congress then decided to balance their power between themselves. This was to prevent anyone from taking over land like Napoleon had and causing chaos. Also, as seen in the interactive map, the congress divided land among the four big powers, Austria, Prussia, France, and Russia, and made new boarders for these countries. The government officials were happy with these new changes and some order was restored after the Congress of Vienna.

I believe it was the right choice of the congress to exile Napoleon. He was causing too much chaos and nations were being torn apart. I also think that balancing power between them was a very smart thing to do. This way it was insured that no country would try and take over the other and cause more wars. I think that The Congress could have taken the poor into consideration more. The changes they made only helped the power as a whole and not specifically the people in need. People in power should be willing to sacrifice some of their power under certain circumstances if it is better for the people and society.