Advanced Placement (AP) European History Practice Exam

What was the primary aim of the Congress of Vienna held after the Napoleonic Wars?

1. To promote revolutionary movements across Europe

2. To establish lasting peace and stability in Europe

3. To further divide European territories

4. To isolate France from its neighbors

The correct answer is: To establish lasting peace and stability in Europe

The primary aim of the Congress of Vienna was to establish lasting peace and stability in Europe following the tumultuous period of the Napoleonic Wars. The Congress, which took place from 1814 to 1815, brought together major powers of Europe, including Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain, with the goal of restoring order and addressing the political changes brought about by Napoleon's conquests. The delegates at the Congress sought to create a balance of power that would prevent any single country from dominating Europe as France had under Napoleon. They implemented a series of territorial adjustments and political agreements designed to ensure that the interests of the great powers were balanced against each other. This included restoring old monarchies that had been overthrown and forming coalitions that would help maintain peace. The notion of "legitimacy" was a key principle at the Congress, where the political legitimacy of hereditary monarchies was reaffirmed, and efforts were made to suppress revolutionary movements, which they viewed as a threat to stability. Thus, the Congress of Vienna is often seen as a turning point that led to nearly a century of relative peace in Europe, referred to as the "Concert of Europe," until the outbreak of World War I. While revolutionary movements were suppressed