1. Congress of Vienna:
- The Congress of Vienna was a diplomatic conference held in Vienna, Austria, from September 1814 to June 1815. It aimed to redraw the map of Europe and restore stability after the Napoleonic Wars.
- The Congress established a new European order, with the goal of preventing future wars through a balance of power among nations.
- The decisions made at the Congress had a profound impact on the political landscape of Europe for the next century.
2. Battle of Waterloo:
- The Battle of Waterloo took place in Belgium on June 18, 1815. It was the final and decisive conflict of the Hundred Days campaign, which marked Napoleon Bonaparte's brief return to power in France after his first abdication in 1814.
- The French army under Napoleon was defeated by the combined forces of the Seventh Coalition, led by the Duke of Wellington and Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher.
- Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo led to his abdication once more and paved the way for the Bourbon Restoration in France.
3. The British Corn Law:
- In 1815, the British government passed the Corn Law, which imposed a sliding scale of import tariffs on foreign grain. This law aimed to protect domestic agriculture by restricting cheap grain imports when domestic prices were low and allowing them when prices were high.
- The Corn Law had several negative consequences, including increased bread prices for consumers and hindered economic growth. It was a source of discontent and became a target of criticism and political debate in subsequent years.
4. The War of 1812 Ends:
- The War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain officially ended on February 17, 1815, with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent.
- The Treaty of Ghent restored the pre-war boundaries and settled various territorial disputes between the two nations, effectively concluding the conflict without a clear victor.
5. The German Confederation:
- The German Confederation was established in June 1815 as a result of the Congress of Vienna. It consisted of 39 German states, including the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia, and was aimed at maintaining peace and stability in Central Europe.
- The German Confederation played a significant role in shaping German politics and diplomacy until its dissolution in 1866.
These events in 1815 had far-reaching consequences and influenced the course of European and world history in the 19th century and beyond.
