Restoration Europe · 1814-1815

The Congress of Vienna redraws Europe

After 20 years of war, emperors, kings and diplomats meet in Vienna to redraw the map of Europe. Students compare the borders before and after, and judge a peace that lasted, but ignored what peoples wanted.

Teach it live New Open on the map
Length
50 minutes
Ages
13–16
On the map
3 steps, AD 1815
Live lesson
7 rounds, 3 on the map
Worksheet
Two A4 pages, with Classroom
You need
A projector; phones for live

Live lesson · new in Classroom

Teach it live. The class answers on their phones.

Put the board on the projector. Students join with a six-digit code, no account needed, and tap the map: where was the frontier, where did the grain come from. Their pins drop in together when you reveal, and the closest student takes the round.

€19 per month: every lesson live, every worksheet, cancel anytime. Rome at its height runs live for free.

A live lesson on the projector: the class's pins on the map around Alexandria, the closest students listed beside it A student's phone: the question and a map to tap
7 rounds
3 places to find on the map, quiz questions, a class vote and a one-line answer.
About 15 minutes
Run it as the map step, or to open the discussion. You move on with the space bar.
A report
Every answer, per student and per round, to read back or print after the lesson.
1

Introduction

5 min

Read aloud

After 20 years of war, emperors, kings and diplomats meet in Vienna to redraw the map of Europe. Students compare the borders before and after, and judge a peace that lasted, but ignored what peoples wanted.

By the end of the lesson, students can

  • Compare the map of Europe in 1800 and 1815 and name three changes made at Vienna.
  • Explain the ideas of balance of power and legitimacy.
  • Judge the strengths and weaknesses of the Vienna settlement.
2

Explore the map

15 min

Project the map, or let students follow on their own devices. Each step opens the map at the right year and place.

a

AD 1815

Before and after

Open the map in 1800 and zoom out over Europe. Then drag the slider to 1815. Which states have disappeared, and which new ones have appeared?

Open this view on the map
b

AD 1815

A new kingdom in the north

Zoom in on the Low Countries in 1815 and turn on Historical Maps. Compare the old map of the Netherlands with the borders. Why did the powers want a strong state on France's northern border?

Open this view on the map
c

AD 1815

Russia moves west

Zoom out to Eastern Europe in 1815. Find Warsaw. Which empire now rules most of the Polish lands?

Open this view on the map
3

Class discussion

15 min

Pick two or three. They run from what happened to why it mattered.

  1. The diplomats wanted a "balance of power". What does that mean, and why did they want it?
  2. France had started many of the wars, yet it was treated mildly. Was that wise?
  3. Belgians, Poles and Italians were not asked where they wanted to belong. What problems could that cause later?
  4. The Congress condemned the slave trade but set no date to end it. Why might the powers have stopped there?
  5. There was no war between all the great powers again until 1914. Does that make the Congress a success?
4

Game round

10 min

Play the 1815 round of Rule History as Napoleon Bonaparte: he returns from Elba while the Congress is still meeting. Then discuss: how did the diplomats in Vienna make sure no one could do this again?

Open Rule History
5

Worksheet

5 min

This worksheet comes with Classroom

€19 per month unlocks every worksheet, every live lesson and the class workspace. The free lesson prints without a subscription.