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The Dike and the Flood


            
             In the early eighteenth century, the French Revolution is over and Napoleon is out of power. Conservatives are trying to return stability to Europe and prevent future disturbances to the status quo, including liberalism and nationalism. The struggle between conservatism and liberalism and nationalism is commonly referred to as the dike and the flood. The dike building, which was dominated by Metternich, was done through the Congress System which involved the five major powers of Europe. However, the dike couldn't prevent the flood of liberalism in England, France, Russia, and Spain, or nationalism in Greece, Serbia, and Belgium. .
             Metternich attempted to suppress liberalism and nationalism by dominating the Congress System. Metternich's politics were similar to those of Edmund Burke. He was extremely conservative, which meant that he favored legitimate monarchies, aristocratic government, and maintaining the status quo. In order to influence Europe of his conservative politics, he created the Congress System, in which the five major powers of Europe would meet to work together to deal with uprisings as they occur. The five major powers of Europe were Austria, Russia, Prussia, Great Britain, and France. Although these powers agreed to meet, they didn't share the same ideals. Austria, Russia, and Prussia were more conservative that Great Britain and France. Austria, Russia, and Prussia formed a Holy Alliance which was used to suppress rebellion. It became a symbol of reaction that was dominated by Metternich. Despite the dike, liberalism flooded Europe.
             Liberalism occurred in England, France, Russia, and Spain. Because of high unemployment and two poor harvests, the people of Britain began to rebel. Lord Liverpool attempted to suppress the revolts before they increased in severity by passing the Corn Laws, which put high taxes on all imported food, the Combination Act, which prevented liberal ideas to be spread via unions, the and Coercion Act, which suspended Habeas Corpus and extended laws against seditious gatherings.


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