Download Napoleon`s Geographic Conquests and Mistakes

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Napoleon’s Geographic Conquests and Mistakes
Aim:HowdidthegeographyofNapoleon’sempireinfluencehisriseandfall?
Directions:Readthefollowinginformationabouttheriseandfallof
Napoleon’sempirewithapartner.Completequestions1‐4basedonthe
reading.Completethewritingframeonyourown.
BuildingtheEmpire:From1805to1807,NapoleondefeatedtheAustrian,
Prussian,andRussianarmies.NapoleonnowhadtheopportunitytocreateanewEuropeanorder.
From1807to1812,NapoleonwasthemasterofEurope.HisGrandEmpirewascomposedoftwo
majorparts:theFrenchEmpire,dependentstates,andalliedstates.TheFrenchEmpirewasthe
innercoreoftheGrandEmpire.ItconsistedofanenlargedFranceextendingtotheRhineintheeast
andincludingthewesternhalfofItalynorthofRome.Dependentstateswerekingdomsunderthe
ruleofNapoleons’relatives.ThesecametoincludeSpain,Holland,thekingdomofItaly,theSwiss
Republic,andtheConfederationoftheRhine.ThealliedstatesincludingBritain,Prussia,Austria,
Russia,andSwedenwereagainstNapoleonandtheFrench.
1.ExaminethelocationsofthestatesthatwerealliedagainstNapoleonin1812.What
geographicfactorswouldhavehelpedthesestatesremainindependentfromNapoleon’s
control?
TheFallofNapoleon:ThebeginningofNapoleon’sdownfallcamein1812withhisinvasionof
Russia.Withinonlyafewyears,thefallwascomplete.Napoleonknewtherisksininvadingsucha
largecountry,however,healsoknewthattheRussianwereathreattohisempire.InJune1812,a
GrandArmyof600,000menenteredRussia.Napoleon’shopesforvictorydependedonaquick
defeatoftheRussianarmies.TheRussianforces,however,refusedtofightagainstNapoleon’sarmy.
Theyretreatedforhundredsofmiles.Astheyretreated,theyburneddowntheirownvillagesand
countrysidetokeepNapoleon’sarmyfromfindingfood(scorchedearth).Whentheremaining
GrandArmyarrivedinMoscow,theyfoundthecityablaze.Lackingfoodsupplies,Napoleon
abandonedMoscowlateinOctoberandbeganthe“GreatRetreat”acrossRussia.Theretreat
proceededinterriblewinterconditions.Only40,000outof600,000troopsreturnedhometo
France.
NapoleonSuffersDefeat
•
Britain,Prussia,Sweden,Russia,AustriajoinforcesagainstNapoleon
•
Napoleonraisesanotherarmy,butmeetsquickdefeatbyalliedpowers
•
NapoleonfinallysurrendersandisexiledtoislandofElba
CongressofVienna:Europeanheadsofgovernmentwerelookingtoestablishlong‐lastingpeace
andstabilityonthecontinentafterthedefeatofNapoleon.ThegoaloftheCongressofViennawas
torestoretheEuropeanbordersbacktothetimebeforeNapoleonandrestoremonarchiesbackto
theirthrones.
2. HowdidgeographyimpacttheriseandfallofNapoleon’sempire?Explain.
3. HowwasNapoleonabletomaintaincontroloverhisvastgeographicempire?
4. WhywasNapoleon’sdelayoftheretreatformMoscowsuchagreatblunder?
Instructions:WriteashortstoryasifyouwereNapoleonretreatinginRussia
□ Describeindetailwhyyouareinthissituationandhowgeographyinfluencedyourdecision