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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