Key Terminology

Concert of Europe	Agreement between the great powers of Europe to work together to maintain peace on the continent and to avoid a major war. Powers agreed to resolve disputes peacefully.
Balance of power	An approach to maintaining peace. It involves a system with countries that are roughly equal in power. Because power is “balanced” war will not happen because no one can win easily.
Congress of Vienna	A significant meeting of European leaders in 1815 to discuss what to do about France and the borders of the continent. Leaders also wanted to undo the changes brought by the French Revolution and restore royal authority.
Great power competition	A belief that powerful states will always be in a competition for more resources, power, and influence. It assumes that states are sensitive to the relative power of other states and will respond negatively if they feel their power is threatened by another.

Minds-on: What is the relationship between China and the United States like? Why do you think the relationship is this way?