Download PPT - Ms. Paras

NAPOLEON’S EMPIRE
COLLAPSES
THE CONTINENTAL SYSTEM
• Nov 1806 he set up a blockade: forcible closing of
ports; to stop all trade and communication
between Great Britain and Europe
• Called this policy the Continental System because it
was supposed to make Continental Europe more
self-sufficient; also intended to destroy Great
Britain’s commercial and industrial economy
• Blockade wasn’t tight enough-smugglers got
through, and some allies disregarded it
• Britain set up a blockade of their own, stronger navy
THE PENINSULAR WAR
• 1808 sent troops through Spain to attack Portugal,
to get them to accept Continental System
• Spanish ppl protested, so Napoleon removed king
and replaced him w his brother Joseph
• Inflamed nationalistic feelings
• 6 years bands of Spanish peasant fighters, known as
guerillas, struck at French armies in Spain
• Britain sent troops to aid the Spanish; Napoleon lost
300,000 in Peninsular War
• Weakened French empire; nationalism (loyalty to
one’s own country) was growing throughout Europe
THE INVASION OF RUSSIA
• 1812 Napoleon decided to invade Russia bc Alexander I
had refused to stop selling grain to Britain, and rulers
fought over Poland, breakdown in alliance
• June 1812 Napoleon marched his Grand Army into
Russia, 420,000 soldiers
• Russians retreated, practiced a scorched-earth policy:
burn grain, kill animals so nothing left to enemy
• Sept 7, 1812 armies fought at Battle of Borodino; Russians
fell back, allowed French to take Moscow, which they
had left in flames, destroyed rather than surrender it
• French head back but winter approached, many died
of cold, hunger, exhaustion, etc.
• Only 10,000 left Russia of the 420,000
NAPOLEON’S DOWNFALL
• Britain, Austria, Prussia, Sweden, and Russia joined to
fight France, exploit weakness
• Napoleon raised another army but not prepared
• Oct 1813 fought at Leipzig, lost
• Jan 1814 allied armies pushing to Paris
• April 1814 Napoleon wanted to fight on but his
generals refused, surrendered, gave up throne,
exiled to island of Elba
THE ONE HUNDRED DAYS
• Louis XVI’s brother assumed the throne as Louis XVII:
unpopular
• Napoleon escaped Elba, March 1, 1815 landed in
France, emperor again, volunteer army
• British army, led by Duke of Wellington, prepared for
battle near village of Waterloo in Belgium
• June 18, 1815 Napoleon attacked, lost when Prussia
joined Britain
• The Hundred Days: Napoleon’s last bid for power
• He was exiled to St Helena, died in 1821 of cancer
THE CONGRESS OF VIENNA
• European rulers wanted to set up long standing peace
after Napoleon was gone-series of meetings were called
to set up policies to achieve goal of collective security
and stability for the continent: Congress of Vienna;
lasted 8 months!
• Winter of 1814-1815 representatives of the five “great
powers” Russia, Prussia, Austria, Great Britain, and France
met
• Most influential was foreign minister of Austria: Prince
Klemens von Metternich
• He distrusted French revolution’s democratic ideals,
wanted to keep things the way they were
• 3 goals…
THREE GOALS…
• 1) The Containment of France
• Many steps taken, for example: Switzerland
became independent, German states joined to
create German confederation
• 2) Balance of Power
• Made countries equal in power
• 3) Legitimacy
• Rulers affirmed principle of legitimacy: as many as
possible of the rulers Napoleon got rid of were to be
restored to power (ex France, Spain, Italy)
LONG TERM LEGACIES
• Congress of Vienna was Political Triumph
• no war for 40 yrs
• first time nations of an entire continent cooperated to control
political affairs, settlements fair so no grudges, agreed to come
to one another’s aid in cases of threats to peace
• Influenced world politics for the next 100 years
• France’s power decreased while Britain and Prussia’s
increased
• Nationalism spread, led to revolutions
• European colonies took advantage and broke away for
independence
• Ideas about power and authority changed by French
Rev