Conservatism: The French Revolution

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After all the hardships and distress that the European countries suffered from during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era; Austria, Russia, Prussia, France, and Britain unite in the Congress of Vienna and agreed to stop the wars and revolutions, and live peaceful and simple life. However, Conservative rule is very important for the stability of Europe. The French Revolution made a big change in the European history. Besides the dramatic and bloody beginning, the revolution ruined monarchy, destroyed aristocracy, induces freedom of expression, and support equality before the law. However, Napoleon’s leadership skills were extraordinary, he succeed as administrator, legal and social reformer. He made very important achievements during …show more content…

Its principles could be traded back to Edmund Burke’s “Reflections on the Revolution in France”, and also to Joseph-Marie de Maistre on the “Essay on the Generative Principle of political Institutions”. Conservatism acknowledges the rights of individuals, and the responsibilities that one has toward another, it encourages the establishment of a cohesive society. However, Conservatism values traditions, religion, and set up norms of morality. “Its ethical goal is the preservation of the group rather that the gratification of the individual” (Backman 674). Conservatism doesn’t refuse the need of change, but it believes that changes need a gradual development and require time to approve success. Under the conservatism norm, Napoleon failure was predictable because of his revolutionary actions and unnatural accomplishments. Thus, we are not able to reshape the world the way we want to see it, and we are not able to create whole new systems. Conservatism supports the law of nature, where there is no legality in everything. People are different in beauty, talent, intelligence, wealth, skills, and health. Indeed, hierarchies are very natural and conservatism is the best choice to peaceful and simple …show more content…

But industrial capitalism disagreed with the traditional society created by the conservatives because it appreciated individual enterprise. But, capitalism depends on the freedom of capital, changing old institutions and customs and implanting new ones to improve the industry. However, the challenge in this situation was to accomplish the success from the industrial development without losing the ethical and moral beliefs and traditions. As we all know you, Mr. Klemens von Metternich as one of the main figures in the Congress of Vienna that supported conservatism and believed of its ability to minimize wars and help the Europeans live simple and pure life. However, the victorious powers should re-establish the conservative rule across the European Continent in order to regain its

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