1.1 King William I

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

1.2 King William I

Goals

Why was the United Kingdom of the Netherlands founded in 1815, and why did Belgium secede in 1830?

Wenen

• 1815: Congress of Vienna
• Objectives:
• 1. Balance of power in Europe
• 2. Restoring the ‘legitimate’ order (restoration) 
• 3. Keeping peace (restraining France):
• - Founding Kingdom of the Netherlands with William I as monarch (1813)
• - Prussia gains territories on the border of France

William I

• Netherlands becomes a constitutional monarchy: monarch bound by constitution:
• - Second chamber  represents the people
• -Second chamber  may make laws
• - First chamber  may reject laws - king elects members
• However, William may also make laws and ignore the Second chamber 
• In practice, he has absolute power
• Grand aim: unity in the Netherlands

North and South

• 200 years not together
• South:
• - economic: industry
• - social: catholic & noble
• - cultural: French
• North:
• - economic: craft & trade
• - social: protestant & bourgeois
• - cultural: Dutch

William I

• Economic:
• - Creation of NHM mainly to benefit trading north
• - high tax due to debts north
• Political: equal power N & Z (but mainly themselves)
• Religious: Collegium Philosophicum = southern priests new education
• Language: Dutch more important

Discontent grows

Famine and economic problems 

Opera The Mute of Portici --> revolt

'Holy love for the fatherland,

Give us courage and pride;

To my country I owe my life.

To me it will owe its freedom.'

Revolt

Reaction North: Ten Day Campaign: military attempt to suppress rebellion

Loss of Belgian industry causes major economic problems in north

1830: Independence of Belgium

1839: official secession of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands

Noord

Zuid

Economic

Economic

Political

Political

Religion

Religion

Language

Language

Trade

Industrial

Citizens

Aristocratic

Protestant

Catholic

Dutch

French

Why was the
United Kingdom of the Netherlands formed?

Why did Belgium secede in 1830?