International Peace Congress
Encyclopedia
International Peace Congress, or International Congress of the Friends of Peace, was the name of a series of international meetings of representatives from peace societies from throughout the world held in various places in Europe
from 1843 to 1853. An initial congress at London in 1843 was followed by an annual series of congresses from 1848 until 1853.
and on the initiative of the American Peace Society in 1843. The host was the London Peace Society. 294 British, 37 American and six Continental delegates attended.
organized the Congress of 1848, the first after the French Revolution of February 1848
. It was chaired by Auguste Visschers, a Belgian lawyer and philanthropist. The participants met at Brussels in September of that year. Among the delegates were Cobden
, Thierry, Girardin
, and Bastiat
. The congress adopted resolutions urging limitation of armaments and the placing of a ban upon foreign loans for war purposes.
as president. The proceedings were published by Charles Gilpin
.
The series was terminated by an interval of wars during which the pacifists were unable to raise their voices.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
from 1843 to 1853. An initial congress at London in 1843 was followed by an annual series of congresses from 1848 until 1853.
London, 1843
The first International Congress was held in London at the suggestion of Joseph SturgeJoseph Sturge
Joseph Sturge , son of a farmer in Gloucestershire, was an English Quaker, abolitionist and activist. He founded the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society . He worked throughout his life in Radical political actions supporting pacifism, working-class rights, and the universal emancipation of...
and on the initiative of the American Peace Society in 1843. The host was the London Peace Society. 294 British, 37 American and six Continental delegates attended.
Brussels, 1848
Elihu BurrittElihu Burritt
Elihu Burritt was an American philanthropist and social activist.-Biography:He was born December 8, 1810, in the town of New Britain, Connecticut....
organized the Congress of 1848, the first after the French Revolution of February 1848
French Revolution of 1848
The 1848 Revolution in France was one of a wave of revolutions in 1848 in Europe. In France, the February revolution ended the Orleans monarchy and led to the creation of the French Second Republic. The February Revolution was really the belated second phase of the Revolution of 1830...
. It was chaired by Auguste Visschers, a Belgian lawyer and philanthropist. The participants met at Brussels in September of that year. Among the delegates were Cobden
Richard Cobden
Richard Cobden was a British manufacturer and Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with John Bright in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League as well as with the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty...
, Thierry, Girardin
Émile de Girardin
Émile de Girardin , was a French journalist, publicist, and politician. He was born in Paris in 1802, the son of General Alexandre de Girardin and of Madame Dupuy , wife of a Parisian advocate....
, and Bastiat
Frédéric Bastiat
Claude Frédéric Bastiat was a French classical liberal theorist, political economist, and member of the French assembly. He was notable for developing the important economic concept of opportunity cost.-Biography:...
. The congress adopted resolutions urging limitation of armaments and the placing of a ban upon foreign loans for war purposes.
Paris, 1849
One year after Brussels, the Peace Congress met in Paris from 22 to 24 August 1849, with Victor HugoVictor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
as president. The proceedings were published by Charles Gilpin
Charles Gilpin (politician)
Charles Gilpin was a Quaker, orator, politician, publisher and railway director. Amongst his many causes were the movement to repeal the Corn Laws, to establish world peace through the Peace Society, abolition of the death penalty and the anti-slavery movement, enfranchisement by providing...
.
Later congresses
Through the next decade, more congresses were convened in various cities:- 4th congress: Frankfurt am Main (1850)
- 5th congress: London (1851)
- 6th congress: Manchester (1852) Here Richard Cobden and John BrightJohn BrightJohn Bright , Quaker, was a British Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with Richard Cobden in the formation of the Anti-Corn Law League. He was one of the greatest orators of his generation, and a strong critic of British foreign policy...
took part in the discussions. - 7th congress: Edinburgh (1853)
The series was terminated by an interval of wars during which the pacifists were unable to raise their voices.