In 1822, just several years into the era known as the "Concert of Europe", President James Monroe predicted that it would fail. Monroe was proved to be right, other than the territorial boundaries established at the Congress of Vienna, the the Concert of Europe failed in 1823. Great Britain chose not to get involved in European issues that did not involve them and rejected the plans of Russia to suppress revolutions. Shortly afterwards, the Concert System was replaced by growing political and economic rivalries. Monroe was right in his predictions, but what is most interesting is why he believed such a system can never succeed.
Concert of Europe
In the early 19th century, European monarchies were in a struggle to hold on to and consolidate their power. After the defeat of Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, the members of the Quadruple Alliance (Austria, Prussia, Russia and the United Kingdom) were faced with the task of determining the fate of Europe. Their goal was to keep the conservative powers of Europe in power and evenly matched to avoid new wars from breaking out. They formed what is known as the "Concert of Europe". The Concert of Europe was a system of dispute resolution formed after the congress of Vienna to maintain the stability among the member nations and to minimize revolutionary movements. France eventually joined the system after the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy. There was no permanent written alliance, but during times of crisis the member countries would meet in Conferences such as the Aix-la-Chapelle (1818) which mediated disputes between Spain and her colonies. Aside from the Quadruple alliance, there was also the Holy as alliance between the Kingdom of Prussia, Austrian and the Russian empires. This alliance had the mission of preserving Christian social values and the traditional monarchy.The Concert system worked on moral rater than legal grounds and maintained stability not only by reducing regional wars in Europe. For example, when the Greek Revolution broke out in 1821, it was initially resolved without the Great Powers of Europe getting involved. In the early days of the Council, there were many positive signs that Europe was entering a new age of peace and stability. In his 1822, state of the Union Address, President James Monroe pointed to a couple of examples. First, after the uprising in Spain led by the liberal general Rafael del Riego in 1820, the Spanish government divided Spain into 52 provinces with a promise of a more efficient and just government for the people. Second, in Portugal, a political revolution erupted in 1820 which brought back the Portuguese Court that had taken refuge in Brazil during the Napoleonic wars. These events took place without greater wars breaking out among the Great Powers of Europe. In these endeavors, Monroe wished the people of Spain and Portugal well.
"A great effort has been made in Spain and Portugal to improve the condition of the people, and it must be very consoling to all benevolent minds to see the extraordinary moderation with which it has been conducted. That it may promote the happiness of both nations is the ardent wish of this whole people, to the expression of which we confine ourselves; for whatever may be the feelings or sentiments which every individual under our Government has a right to indulge and express, it is nevertheless a sacred maxim, equally with the Government and people, that the destiny of every independent nation in what relates to such improvements of right belongs and ought to be left exclusively to themselves."But then he pivoted on to his reservations that peace would hold in the long term. Based on recent history, he believed that peace in Europe would not last long. Monroe could not predict what events would lead to war, but there was one thing he knew for certain, the monarchies of Europe were destined to be at war with one another. President Monroe was a firm believer in a Democratic Republic as a more stable form of government. In fact, whatever the causes that would lead to war in Europe, Monroe declared that they would be "utterly unknown in these states" because sovereignty belonged exclusively to the people, not in a king.
"Whether we reason from the late wars or from those menacing symptoms which now appear in Europe, it is manifest that if a convulsion should take place in any of those countries it will proceed from causes which have no existence and are utterly unknown in these States, in which there is but one order, that of the people, to whom the sovereignty exclusively belongs."Perhaps, in Europe they saw the fruit of the Concert of Europe, but Monroe was not a believer. It was in Europe where the unrest existed. The Mediterranean was embroiled in the war for Greek independence. Spain continued to be at war with her colonies, including those in South America. Portugal and Brazil have both rejected Spanish rule. And a system of piracy continued to rule the seas. In Monroe's personal opinion, the Concert of Europe was just not working.
So, while many held out hope that the Concert of Europe would last and the that man's evil desires to gain power would be kept in check, and that war between the great powers of Europe would not return, Monroe would not let the United States fall into the trap of false hope. And what if war did break out among the great powers of Europe? How far would it spread? The United States would not be spared. Even if we choose to remain neutral, history proved that injuries would still be sustained. In the end there would be no way to avoid being pulled into the war if we are left in a "defenseless position".
- "that a civil war of the most frightful character rages from the Adriatic to the Black Sea;
- that strong symptoms of war appear in other parts, proceeding from causes which, should it break out, may become general and be of long duration;
- that the war still continues between Spain and the independent governments, her late Provinces, in this hemisphere;
- that it is likewise menaced between Portugal and Brazil, in consequence of the attempt of the latter to dismember itself from the former, and
- that a system of piracy of great extent is maintained in the neighboring seas, which will require equal vigilance and decision to suppress it,"
"Should war break out in any of those countries who can foretell the extent to which it may be carried or the desolation which it may spread? Exempt as we are from these causes, our internal tranquillity is secure; and distant as we are from the troubled scene, and faithful to first principles in regard to other powers, we might reasonably presume that we should not be molested by them. This, however, ought not to be calculated on as certain. Unprovoked injuries are often inflicted and even the peculiar felicity of our situation might with some be a cause for excitement and aggression.
The history of the late wars in Europe furnishes a complete demonstration
- that no system of conduct, however correct in principle, can protect neutral powers from injury from any party;
- that a defenseless position and distinguished love of peace are the surest invitations to war, and
- that there is no way to avoid it other than by being always prepared and willing for just cause to meet it."
"the reasons for sustaining the attitude which we now hold and for pushing forward all our measures of defense with the utmost vigor appear to me to acquire new force."Meanwhile, the United States owed it to the world to be a beacon to all humanity and be the greatest cause of liberty. There was no escaping the stark contrast between the Democracy of the Americas and the monarchies of Europe. There was no denying that Freedom and Democracy was strong in the Americas. Indeed, in 1822 Brazil had just won it's independence from Spain. Yet, according to James Monroe, these European institutions so desperate to hold on to their power, laid the following criticisms against free governments:
- "that they have neither the foresight nor the virtue to provide at the proper season for great emergencies;
- that their course is improvident and expensive;
- that war will always find them unprepared, and, whatever may be its calamities,
- that its terrible warnings will be disregarded and forgotten as soon as peace returns."
"I have full confidence that this charge so far as relates to the United States will be shewn to be utterly destitute of truth."And for this reason, the United States must remain for the world a great example of liberty.
"The United States owe to the world a great example, and, by means thereof, to the cause of liberty and humanity a generous support. They have so far succeeded to the satisfaction of the virtuous and enlightened of every country. There is no reason to doubt that their whole movement will be regulated by a sacred regard to principle, all our institutions being founded on that basis. The ability to support our own cause under any trial to which it may be exposed is the great point on which the public solicitude rests."About the picture. Pictured above is a satirical depiction of the Congress of Verona. The Congress of Verona which met in 1822 to discuss the United Kingdom's position on such questions as supporting the Greek War of Independence
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=29464
http://www.stateoftheunionhistory.com/2017/03/1818-james-monroe-aix-la-chapelle-and.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concert_of_Europe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1822_territorial_division_of_Spain
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congress_of_Verona#/media/File:Congress_of_Verona.jpg
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