How did the idea of a balance of power influence the decisions at the Congress of Vienna, and how did this work in France's favor despite more than two decades of war resulting from French aggression?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer is Answer would ideally include the following. The idea of a balance of power was at the heart of the decisions made by the Congress of Vienna participants, who were determined to redraw the map of Europe in such a way that no one European country could dominate the others. Because France had been an aggressor nation since the time of Louis XIV, the other major countries of Europe agreed that France needed to be contained, and they made it clear that the borders of states reestablished around France were guaranteed. On the other hand, the congress recognized that, as one of the largest and most populous states of Europe, France needed to remain a major participant in European affairs to counter the other great continental states, particularly Prussia and Russia.

How Did the Idea of a Balance of Power Influence