The issues that are at stake for each of the areas or countries are sovereignty (can I make decisions for own region), nationalism (identifying my national interests: uniting others that are like me culturally) protection (how do I protect my country from others), stability (what is the best way to keep things as they are decided here at the Congress of Vienna), economic issues (how do I begin or continue my industrial growth: Factors of production which mean raw materials, labor, a place to safely produce goods, and distribution, get the products where I want them). All of these tie to the territorial decisions to be made at the Congress of Vienna. Before the Congress begins each delegation must devise a negotiating strategy. Group experts study the background information about the various delegations. Their only purpose is to make the diplomatic activity more effective.
Each country has a Delegate, who speaks for the delegation at the negotiation table, an assistant, who puts everything together and may be responsible for the final typing of the treaty, and a liaison who is responsible for informal negotiations. In each group someone must be responsible for knowing about what the issues are for the other countries or city states. (For example, if you are Russia someone will need to know what the issues are and represent Great Britain, Prussia, Germanic city states, and another Italian city states, Russia, and France) Each person in the group will have many different jobs.
Each country will develop a proposal about the settlement that is most logical based on the above issues. These proposals will be presented at the formal session with all delegations represented. The proposals will be considered in item order, with one (1) being first. A final document will be prepared and submitted for the final signing of all nations.
Each student receives a group grade that is based on the initial proposal (30%). Written documentation that each of the other countries has given your country official recognition (10%). (must have one from each of the countries with Italian city states and Germanic states acting as one entity) And a final map with proposed new boundaries (20%). The remaining percentage (20%) is an individual grade based on participation/contribution to the group effort including participation (consultation) in the drafting of the final document to be signed. This will include participation in creation of alternative proposals. Each group will receive a grade(20%) for the final treaty. One final treaty is created by a representative and is signed by the delegate from each country in a formal ceremony. It will be in the form of an actual treaty and use terminology that is present in treaties of the 1800s.
1st, determine which of the proposals your country is responsible for and in what order the proposals will be made. Note: your country may be responsible for an alternative proposal. 2nd, determine the primary concern and issues for each country beginning with your own, the character and personality of the delegate from that country, other possible items that could influence decisions of the delegates. 3rd, begin informal negotiations with the liaisons from the country and establish diplomatic relations (first with those you have the best chance of making an alliance then to the other countries) 4th, complete your proposal and map.
Since it was Russia who initiated the debate over Poland and Saxony in 1814, the leader of the Russian delegation will propose a motion concerning the future of each of the eight areas of the former Grand Duchy of Warsaw and each of the eleven areas of the Kingdom of Saxony.
In the case of the former Grand Duchy each area may be
a. kept under Russian control
b. handed over to Prussia
c. handed over to Austria
d. granted independence in a reconstituted Kingdom of Poland
In the case of the Kingdom of Saxony each area may be
a. handed over to Prussia
b. left in the possession of the King of Saxony
This motion can only be carried if Russia, Prussia and Austria vote for it and no more than one power votes against it. If it does not carry then the Prussians must propose and alternative motion which must fulfill the same conditions as the others before it can be passed. If all three motions are defeated then the Congress reverts to informal negotiations. After this time, if at least two of the motions fail then Russia, Prussia, and Austria will at least 5 points from their grades. It should be clear that continued deadlock will prevent Russia, Prussia and Austria from winning. If other powers are responsible for the deadlock then no penalty is taken.
The British delegation must propose a motion, which must deal with the territorial settlement for north and west Germany.
In the case of Emden, Osnabruck, Minden and Brunswick each area may be:
a. handed over to Hanover
b. handed over to Prussia
c. granted the status of independent states
In the case of all the other areas there are only two possibilities- they may be:
a. handed over to Prussia
b. granted the status of independent states
This motion may only be carried if Britain, France and Prussia vote for it and if no more than one power votes against it. If the British motion is not carried then the French leader must propose an alternative which must be carried with the same conditions. If the French motion is not carried then the Prussian delegation must propose a motion. Britain, France and Prussia each loose 5 points. If this fails under the same conditions then informal negotiations begin. After the informal negotiations then another vote is taken and the same penalties are imposed for failure to reach an agreement. If other powers are responsible for a deadlock then no points are deducted.
The Austrian delegation will propose a motion concerning Italy and the Adriatic. The options for each area are as follows:
For Genoa:
a. be handed over to Piedmont
b. become and independent state again
For the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies
a. remain under French influence
b. come under Austrian influence
c. become a completely independent state
For the Ionian Islands
a. remain part of Venice IF Venice remains independent
b. become part of Austria IF the rest of Venice is handed over to Austria
c. be handed over to Britain, regardless of what happens to the rest
of Venice
For the Dalmation provinces of Venice
a. remain part of Venice IF Venice remains independent
b. become part of Austria, regardless of what happens to the rest of
Venice
For mainland Venice and the state of Milan
a. be handed over to Austria
b. become independent state again
For Parma, Modena, Lucca and Tuscany
a. become client states of Austria
b. be restored to full independence
The motion may only be carried if Austria, Britain and France vote for it and if no more than one power votes against it. If the Austrian motion fails then the British must propose and alternative motion which can be carried only with the same conditions. If a motion is defeated then 5 points are deducted from each of the Austrian, British, and French delegations. Informal negotiations begin, a proposal is made and if it fails then points are deducted again until a motion carries with the same conditions. No points are deducted if other powers are responsible for the deadlock.
The Prussian delegation will present a proposal for the future form of the Germanic Confederation. The options are as follows:
a. That a strong Confederation under joint Austro-Prussian leadership
be established.
b. That a weak Confederation under joint Austro-Prussian leadership
be established.
c. That a strong Confederation under Austrian leadership be established
d. That a weak Confederation under Austrian leadership be established
For a motion to carry it must receive at least four votes in favor, three of which must be cast by Prussia, Austria, France or Britain. If no motion is carried after the first vote then each of these powers deducts 5 points from their grades. The Congress reverts to informal session and is then recalled to vote on the motions again with the same penalties being imposed if no motion carries.
France, Germanic city-states, and Italian city states shall determine the possible proposals for each item (1, 2, 3, & 4) and complete a map that would serve the best interest of their area. These proposals shall be written and submitted at the time of the first proposal.
Country
initial proposal (30%)
What does your country want to do for your assigned item? What are
other areas trying to gain or protect? What is their hidden agenda? Point
out to the other countries what they can gain from agreeing with the proposal.
Must be written in formal Roberts Rules of Order format with supporting
arguments for passage. Should be about 200 words including the specific
items
Official written recognition from each of the other countries (10%)
France Prussia Austria Great Britain Russia Italian city states Germanic city states
map with proposed new boundaries (20%). Use the enlarged map given to you. Remember compass rose, scale, legend labels. Include items such as rivers or mountains if they relate to the negotiations. May be altered as negotiations begin.
participation/contribution (20%) individual grade
name and role
name and role
name and role
name and role
(written products from research)
how do you write a proposal. Notes on the other negotiators. (consultation) is your advise on target (document or take notes on your contribution)
Final Treaty(20%) (all group project) written by one member from each group