Advanced Placement (AP) European History Practice Exam

What did the Congress of Vienna fail to restore in Germany after the Napoleonic wars?

1. A unified national identity

2. Democratic institutions

3. The Holy Roman Empire

4. Feudal privileges

The correct answer is: The Holy Roman Empire

The Congress of Vienna, which took place in 1814-1815, aimed to redraw the map of Europe and establish a balance of power following the upheaval caused by the Napoleonic Wars. While the Congress restored many monarchies and sought to stabilize Europe, it did not rejuvenate the Holy Roman Empire. The Holy Roman Empire had effectively dissolved in 1806 when Francis II abdicated after the defeat by Napoleon, and the Congress of Vienna opted not to revive it. Instead, Germany was left fragmented into numerous autonomous states and principalities, which contributed to ongoing regionalism and the lack of political cohesion that made the unification of Germany a complex issue that would not be addressed until the mid-19th century. The other options relate to aspects of German society post-Napoleonic wars, like national identity and democracy, but they are not the specific focus of what the Congress failed to restore within the structural framework of governance that the Holy Roman Empire had provided. The Congress did not seek to create democratic institutions or peaceful democratic resolutions in Germany, nor did it promote the restoration of feudal privileges as a primary goal, focusing instead on larger political stability. Thus, the most appropriate answer is that the Congress of Vienna failed to restore