The Restoration

When dealing with the period known as the “Restoration,” one often uses the dates of 1815 to 1848. The Congress of Vienna, in 1815, signaled the start of the Restoration, and the Revolution of 1848 signaled the end. The question, however, is not “when was the Restoration,” but “why was it called the Restoration.” These dates are important in helping us determine what was restored, as we see 1815 bring an end to Napoleon’s rule, and 1848 bring an end …

…saw a calm time in Europe, as nations worked together, in some cases for the first time, for a harmonious and prosperous Europe; other nations that didn’t even exist came into existence, a sure sign that things were changing, or moving ahead, instead of regressing. Using “Restoration” as the nomenclature for this period is misleading, and I feel should not be applied, as it really doesn’t apply to what was happening at all.