Napoleon’s Empire Collapses

Vocabulary Blockade: a forcible closing of ports. Napoleon signed a decree ordering a blockade to prevent all trade and communication between Great Britain and other European Nations. Continental system: The policy that was supposed to make continental Europe more self-sufficient. It was also intended to destroy Britain’s commercial and industrial economy. Guerrillas: bands of Spanish peasant fighters. They struck at French armies while in Spain. The guerillas were not an actual army that Napoleon could fight because they were ordinary people who would ambush the French troops. Peninsular War: When the British sent troops to aid the rebels in Spain. Napoleon lost 300,000 men during this war which weakened the French Empire. Scorched-Earth policy: the burning of grain fields and slaughtering livestock so as to leave nothing that the enemy could eat.

Vocab. Continued Battle of Waterloo: The battle between the British and the French army. This battle was taken place on a field outside the city of Waterloo, Belgium on June 15, 1815. Napoleon’s army was defeated by the British army (also with the help of the Prussian army). Hundred Days: Napoleon’s last bid for power. (the Battle of Waterloo ended this bid for power and Napoleon was sent in exile to the island of St. Helena.

Napoleon’s 3 Costly Mistakes Continental System: When Napoleon set up the blockade and the Continental System against Britain and the rest of Europe, he was trying to weaken the power of the British empire so as it would be easier to defeat them. Napoleon’s blockade was not nearly tight enough around Britain. Smugglers managed to bring cargo from Britain into the rest of Europe and allies of the French disregarded Napoleon’s policy. The blockade weakened the British trade but did not destroy it.

Continental system cont. In response to France, the British created their own blockade, stopping neutral ships bound for the continent and forced them to sail to British port to be searched and taxed. Since Britain had a stronger Navy, they were able to make their blockade work. The system hurt Napoleon rather than his enemies. It weakened France’s economy and other land’s under his control.

The Peninsular War Napoleon’s second mistake was when he sent an army through Spain because Portugal was not following the Continental System. Spanish towns protested and in response, Napoleon disposed of the Spanish king and put his brother Joseph in his place. This outraged the Spanish people and enflamed their nationalistic feelings. The French remained in Spain for 5 years and lost many soldiers to guerrillas and the Peninsular war which weakened the French Empire. Overall Germans, Italians, and other conquered people turned against the French. Nationalism became a fierce weapon against Napoleon.

The Invasion of Russia Napoleon had a thirst for power which led to his largest mistake and that’s the invasion of Russia. Alexander I was one of Napoleon’s allies but since he refused to stop selling grain to Britain Napoleon decided to attack. Napoleon’s new army was made up of people from all over Europe and they felt little loyalty towards Napoleon. Alexander I first move was to pull his troops back to Moscow and practice the Scorch-Earth Policy. When Napoleon and Alexander’s army clashed it was a tug-a-war between the two countries. Finally Alexander retreated which allowed Napoleon to take a narrow victory over Moscow. When the French went to claim the city, they found it in flames. By the middle of October Napoleon had no choice but to go back to France because of starvation and Russia’s bitter cold weather which they were not accustomed to. Napoleon was left with only 10,000 soldiers when he came back to France.

Fourth Coalition Napoleon’s enemies were quick to join forces against him while he was weak. Britain, Prussia, Russia, and Sweden all joined in the Fourth Coalition against France. Even though Napoleon married Marie Louise, the Austrians also joined the coalition.

Napoleon’s Downfall The Fourth Coalition easily defeats Napoleon’s inexperienced army and marches toward Paris. The Prussian army paraded through France’s capital and although Napoleon wanted to keep fighting, his generals would not allow it. The defeated emperor gave up his throne and agreed to the terms of surrender. He was banished to the island of Elba.

A Comeback Fails After Napoleon’s exile to Elba, a Bourbon king (Louis XVI brother, Louis XVIII) came to rule Paris. All of France became unhappy with this king as they suspected him of wanting to undo the Revolutions land forms. Hearing this, Napoleon came back to regain France and within a few days became Emperor once again. In response, the European allies quickly put together their armies and defeated Napoleon in the Peninsular War which ended his last bid of power and sent him in exile to the island of ST. Helena where he died.