WMIDMUN XIV February 19-21, 2016 Congress Of Vienna
Letter from the Director Delegates, Welcome to WMIDMUN XIV! My name is Molly Dinneen and I am delighted to be the director for your committee, The Congress of Vienna, this weekend. This is my first year here at the College of William & Mary and in the coming year I intend to declare International Relations as my major. Just like many of you, I m fairly new to Model United Nations. I joined MUN in college having never participated in the organization in middle or high school. Growing up in Northern Virginia, I was always intrigued by Model United Nations and was determined to hit the ground running in college. In the fall I was a delegate at the Duke International Security Conference and served as a Rapp at the William & Mary High School MUN Conference. In addition to the International Relations Club, I am also an avid runner and member of William & Mary s Running Club. I m excited to race in my first half-marathon the weekend after WMIDMUN. Be sure to wave hello if you see me running around campus during the conference! As mentioned earlier, I have the pleasure of serving as your director for The Congress of Vienna Committee. I intend to make this committee as historically accurate as possible, both in time period and in regards to your positions. I m excited to hear your more traditional methods for combating nationalist movements and restructuring territorial borders. Even though it may be old-fashioned, I am determined to make this committee energized and thought provoking. Just as a reminder, position papers are required for each position. It is expected that there is one per delegation. Guidelines for the position papers can be found on the WMIDMUN website. I look forward to meeting all of you in February and discover your solutions to redefining European territories and ensuring international peace. Sincerely, Molly Dinneen Director, Congress of Vienna mcdinneen@email.wm.edu
Background It is now September 1814, the eve of our historic meeting. The European states have finally come together to prevent future conflict and promote peace. In a coup following the French Revolution, Napoleon seized power, crowning himself dictator in 1804. Using his previous military experience, Napoleon let his ambition drive his desire to expand French territory. During his initial reign, Napoleon reintroduced aristocracy to French society by assigning titles of nobility to his friends and family to ensure their loyalty. Napoleon established a continental empire by defeating all of his opponents except for Russia and Britain. This meant that overpowering him required a massive joint effort between the major powers of Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Britain. Their mutual recognition for the imminent French threat drove these nations to form an alliance. The conflict between the Great Powers and France was embodied in the Napoleonic Wars. Although the fighting was not constant, European nations engaged in bloody battles between 1799 and 1814. Throughout this period of hostility the methods of warfare evolved and modernized. The idea of war as a sport of kings was overtaken by the concept of Total War the unrestricted use of weapons, territory, combatants, and objectives. Feelings of nationalism grew due to less differentiation between noncombatants and military personnel which strengthened the unification of many states. By now many European nations are adopting dark green and brown uniforms in place of the regal and bright uniforms of the past. 1 To balance the power of Great Britain Napoleon formed the Continental System, a group of European nations that were dependent on the French Empire. In 1806 Napoleon responded to a British naval blockade by establishing a Continental System embargo on Britain through the Berlin Decree. All communication and trade between Great Britain and members of the Continental System was forbidden. However, this blockade was largely ineffective at reducing the power of Great Britain as trade was circumnavigated through Russia, Spain, and the Americas. He was successful in his expansion until an invasion of Russia in 1812. Napoleon led a large 2
army into Russia following their withdrawal from his Continental System. Additionally, France was fighting Spain and Portugal in the Peninsula Wars. Nearly half a million soldiers participated in the Battle of Leipzig last October (1813) which marked the turning point of the Napoleonic Wars. Less than 100,000 of Napoleon s initial 600,000 troops returned to France. 2 In March 0f 1814, the Great Powers of Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Britain drafted the Treaty of Chaumont, connecting them in their attempts to remove Napoleon. They sensed a weakness in the French empire that could be taken advantage of through a joint effort. In this treaty they promised to work together until France s military and political leader was defeated. In the Treat of Fontainebleau (April 1814) Napoleon capitulated for the first time. 3 The Great Powers invited their European neighbors to gather in Vienna to discuss territorial borders, the establishment of new states, and the prevention of war. Topic One: Redefining Territorial Borders and Colonial Holdings New configuration of German states Between 1795 and 1814 the German states went through a series of secularizations and mediatizations. Secularization refers to the transformation of a society from basing decisions on religious values to nonreligious values. Mediatization is the process of annexing foreign lands under a new monarchy. In regards to Germany, mediatization was the transfer of sovereignty from small states to their larger neighbors. 4 The Holy Roman Empire encompassed the Kingdom of Germany from the early Middle Ages until 1806. Since the Thirty Years Wars the number of German states has been slowly decreasing due to mediatization so that by the onset if the French Republic there were only 200 remaining. This kingdom consisted of a decentralized monarchy composed of numerous subunits with de facto sovereignty. However, the Holy Roman Empire dissolved following the Battle of Austerlitz due to the victory of Napoleon. 3
At the demise of the Holy Roman Empire, the French established the Confederation of the Rhine in the Treaty of Pressburg. This confederation consisted of German client-states under French supervision. Client-states are political entities that are economically, politically, and/or militarily subordinate, and therefore dependent on, a more powerful international ally. During the 6 Wars of Coalition the French empire united additional German states under Napoleon s rule. While participating in the Congress of Vienna, delegates must decide the proper course of action surrounding the evolving sense of German nationality. Sovereignty, supreme and absolute authority, would allow the Germanic people to create laws and establish rules that directly correlate to their individual needs. As a part of the extensive French empire they were forced to comply with regulations aimed at a much larger and more diverse population. Allowing for Germanic nationality would enable people with common ancestry, language, and culture to come together and regulate themselves. Borders of Italy In 1805 Napoleon established the Kingdom of Italy with himself as king and Eugene de Beauharnais as his viceroy, or a representative of the monarch with ruling authority. At its formation, the Kingdom of Italy consisted of the Duchy of Milan, Duchy of Mantua, the province of Novara, portions of the Papal States in Romagna, and a small piece of the Republic of Venice. In the Treaty of Pressburg, Austria surrendered additional Venetian territories while in the Convention of Fontainebleau France and Austria exchanged territories again. In 1808, the Kingdom of Italy annexed the Republic of Ragusa and present-day Marches. Throughout the beginning of the 19 th century the Italian borders were in constant flux. The Kingdom of Italy was a dependency of French Empire; therefore following Napoleon s demise, the members of the Congress of Vienna must determine the sovereignty and territorial borders of the Kingdom of Italy. 5 Prussia & Austria Prussia is a German kingdom established in 1701 following the War of Spanish Succession. Throughout the 18 th century Prussia was involved in numerous wars within Central Europe. 4
Following the War of First Coalition, Prussia and France created the Treaty of Basel stating that the French would assure the Holy Roman Empire s neutrality in portions of central Europe. Listening to Napoleon s demands, Prussia invaded the British dominion of Hanover. Great Britain retaliated only after Prussia aligned with a coalition of pro-french powers. After the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire Prussia turned against the French Empire. However, this caused Prussia to lose half of its territorial holdings, including the lands gained during the partitions of Poland. It is the responsibility of the Congress of Vienna to decide how to reward Prussia for its participation in the defeat of Napoleon. The Austrian Empire was founded by Holy Roman Emperor Francis II in reaction to Napoleon s announcement of the French Empire. Austria and parts of the Holy Roman Empire fought against France and its German allies in the Third Coalition. In the Treaty of Pressburg the boundaries of German states and Austria were reorganized thus weakening the power of Francis In 1806 Francis II dissolved the Holy Roman Empire in response to the creation of the Confederation of the Rhine. The fall of the Holy Roman Empire increased the French influence over the Austrian people. The Congress of Vienna must decide how Austria should align itself in the international realm. We must determine whether Austria should be given additional territories and regional influence. Compensation Following the demise of French Empire many countries are seeking to regain the territories lost in Napoleon s conquest. Other countries desire to be repaid for all their expenses fighting the French. The Congress of Vienna must decide the extent to which France must repay its neighbors for war damages and how much territory should be redistributed to the surrounding nations. Questions to Consider: Delegates, remember to consider these questions in a 19 th century frame of reference. 1. Would the establishment of a sovereign German state promote stability in Europe? II. Additionally, Austria was forced to renounce any claims to German states under French control. 5
2. Should Prussia regain the territory captured by Napoleon and how should it be reorganized? 3. How should France be restructured following the demise of Napoleon? 4. How did the continually changes of the Italian borders impact the sense of unity among the native people? 5. How did the lack of participation in the Confederation of the Rhine effect Austria s international relationships? The French Period over the German states fostered unity and nationalism. The occupation by the French Revolutionary Army encouraged solidarity among the natives. The occupation encouraged anti-french feelings and a desire for sovereignty. Napoleon attempted to impose the French language on the Rhineland which intensified the German opposition. The distaste for French control intensified the Germanic desires for repayment in the forms of sovereignty and monetary compensation following the fall of Napoleon. Topic Two: Nationalist Movements and the Establishment of New States Configuration of German states The French Revolution encouraged the stimulation of democratic and liberal ideas within the German states. While the German states were originally in favor of the French Revolution and occupation, eventually hostility grew which promoted German nationalism. German Jews significantly benefitted from the revolution in France. The economic, agrarian, and legal reforms helped eliminate Jewish ghettos. Scandinavia Although there was no direct contact with France, the revolution promoted the discussion of liberal reforms for the Kingdom of Denmark. During the beginning of the 19 th century the slow political reformation was directed by liberals. Up until now, the start of the Congress of Vienna, reform has been promoted by the regime even though the changes are weakening absolutism. Members of the Congress of Vienna must decide whether to help liberalize the Kingdom of Denmark or whether to strengthen the existing monarchy. 6 6
Poland triggered the French Revolution have the potential Throughout history, relations between France and Poland were predominately positive. The marriages between monarchs connected the Poles to the French Enlightenment. During Polish attempts at liberation France was more of an international ruse than genuine concern. Within Paris, Poles promoted the separation of rival factions among themselves. These factions varied on their level of desire for political independence. After several years of prosperity the Polish- Lithuanian Commonwealth underwent a series of three partitions. In the end of the 18 th century Russia, Prussia, and Austria divided up the territory between themselves. It is the responsibility of the Congress of Vienna to determine whether to recreate a Polish state, redistribute the current partitions, or keep the present partitions in place. Restoration of Monarchs From 1789 to 1799 France underwent a period of political and social upheaval known as the French Revolution. The revolutionaries overthrew the monarchy, establishing a republic through violent struggles that led to the dictatorship of Napoleon. Many of the liberal concepts that to transform the future. From members of the Third Estate, French commoners, to Napoleon, the French countryside saw many different rulers during the beginning of the 19 th century. Members of the Congress of Vienna must determine which governmental structure is best for France. Additionally, you must consider the extent to which the liberal reforms of the revolution will impact the peoples appreciation for and respect of a strong central government. Spain and Great Britain were aligned in their fight against France due to the Second Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1796. However, the alliance began to falter after the loss of the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) which forced Spain to join the Continental System. Napoleon took advantage of Spain s weaknesses, a frail political system and a faltering economy, by positioning soldiers in Spanish territory to prepare for an invasion of Portugal. The abdication of King Charles IV was a result of the mutiny of Aranjuez caused by the unpopularity of the presence of the French troops. Napoleon chose to recognize his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, as king of Spain instead of Charles IV s 7
son Ferdinand VII. With the demise of Napoleon the Congress of Vienna must determine the legitimate ruler of the Spanish empire. It is the responsibility of the Congress of Vienna to decide whether to remove Napoleon s brother from the throne and restore rule to the House of Bourbon in Spain. In 1809 Klemens von Metternich was named Foreign Minister of Austria. Metternich is opposed to revolution and liberalism, believing that absolute monarchy is the best solution. The Congress of Vienna must determine whether to support Metternich s views to reinstall monarchies across Europe or to support the states democratization. Many nations are determined to mitigate potential conflicts due to nationalist movements brewing throughout Europe. European nations must decide if the restoration of traditional governments and monarchs will quell these uprisings. Additionally, dignitaries will consider whether the consolidation of confederations will be useful in instilling peace in the region. Questions to Consider: Delegates, remember to consider these questions in a 19 th century frame of reference. 1. Is the liberalization of states beneficial to the stability of Europe? 2. Will the restoration of pre-french Revolution monarchs ensure balance of power in Europe? 3. Do all nations, groups of people that regard a certain place as their homeland, deserve statehood, sovereign control by a single government? Topic Three: Methods for the Prevention of War and the Stability of Peace The previous equilibrium was broken-18 th century because of Napoleon s dictatorship. After watching Napoleon conquer much of the European continent many states are not eager to see another single nation rise to such a power. Dignitaries may encourage a balance of power through the creation of new nations and the redistribution of territory. Members of the Congress of Vienna may use historical precedents to determine the best course of action. In 1713 the Treaty of Utrecht was a series of peace treaties between Spain, Great 8
Britain, France, and Portugal ending the War of Spanish Succession. These treaties brought attention to the importance of international recognition of the monarch and the security of the line of succession. At this time the nations realized the necessity of mutual recognition of leadership and power to ensure domestic stability. Delegates must consider these issues when determining the legitimacy of current and future European rulers. These treaties reduced the hegemonic ambitions of France while preserving the European balance of power. 7 Members of the Congress of Vienna may deliberate on the various methods of reducing the power of France. In order to discourage future hegemons, members of the Congress of Vienna should consider the creation of buffer zones. Buffer zones are simply zonal areas between two or more areas to reduce the likelihood of conflict or prevent territorial expansion. Through the redistribution of territory and the creation of new states the Congress of Vienna can prevent potential conflicts in Europe. European nations must consider the priority of their national territorial interests in relation to the stability of the international realm to ensure peace. Dignitaries should decide if the general will of Europe is more important than what they feel their country is owed. Following the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, European nations are not eager to engage in future combat. The European nations are inclined to set up a framework for European international politics that would secure stability throughout the region. With the brewing nationalism and still influential ideas of revolution the Congress of Vienna must determine how to prioritize national and international conflicts. Dignitaries will formulate methods for the prevention of war to promote regional peace. Members of the Congress of Vienna should consider multiple options for the promotion of future international and national peace. As a method for ensuring international peace, members should consider collective security. Collective security is a coalition based strategy where nations agree not to attack each other and are obligated to fight against any aggressor to a member of a coalition. Delegates should consider whether the establishment of international organizations would be beneficial to international stability. Within each 9
nation there are varied views regarding the most effective form and size of government. In addition to state relations in the international community, delegates must decide how to ensure the support of their citizens to prevent civil conflicts. In 1789 the French Revolution moved against the use of slavery. In the prior years, France obtained slaves from the Caribbean colonies to improve their sugar industry. Slavery was finally abolished in French territory in 1794, however, Napoleon reestablished the industry because of the economic value. On the other hand, Britain introduced a campaign to end slavery in the beginning of the 19 th century. Motivated by the desire to undermine France and a religiously moral obligation to freedom, Britain attempted to spread their ideas about the abolition of slavery around the world. It is the responsibility of the Congress of Vienna to determine the legality of slavery and slave trade. Should slavery be abolished all together? Should the practice of slavery be allowed while the trade and transfer of slaves be prohibited? Should the decision be left up to individual states? From military force to diplomatic to establish and maintain peace. From Orthodox to Catholicism, throughout Europe states religious beliefs effect the formation of their political agendas. Dignitaries must determine how to interact with other states in the international realm while remaining loyal to their national beliefs and agendas. Questions to Consider: Delegates, remember to consider these questions in a 19 th century frame of reference. 1. Is hegemonic power, like that of Napoleon s, beneficial to the stability of Europe? 2. What is the best way to create peace among religious differences? a. How did the secularization of Germany, thus the reduction of religious influence, effect the security of peace? b. Do religious differences create the necessity for the creation of separate nations? 3. Will reducing French power ensure a balance of power in Europe? negotiations, states have different ideas about how 10
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