Aim: Summarize Napoleon’s Defeat, Comeback, and Final Downfall

Napoleon’s Costly Mistakes Napoleon’s own personality proved to be his greatest danger Napoleon’s own personality proved to be his greatest danger Desire for power Desire for power Nov 1806: Napoleon sets up a blockade Nov 1806: Napoleon sets up a blockade Forcible closure of ports Forcible closure of ports Prevent trade & communication between Britain & other European nations Prevent trade & communication between Britain & other European nations Policy called the Continental System Policy called the Continental System Supposed to make continental Europe self- sufficient Supposed to make continental Europe self- sufficient Napoleon’s blockade not tight enough Napoleon’s blockade not tight enough Britain responded with its own blockade Britain responded with its own blockade Had a stronger navy than Napoleon Had a stronger navy than Napoleon Led to War of 1812 with the United States Led to War of 1812 with the United States

The Peninsula War 1808: In an effort to get Portugal to accept the Continental System, Napoleon sent an invasion force through Spain 1808: In an effort to get Portugal to accept the Continental System, Napoleon sent an invasion force through Spain Napoleon removed the Spanish king and put his own brother, Joseph on the throne Napoleon removed the Spanish king and put his own brother, Joseph on the throne Outraged the Spanish people Outraged the Spanish people Napoleon lost about 300,000 men during the Peninsula War Napoleon lost about 300,000 men during the Peninsula War Called this because Spain lies on Iberian Peninsula Called this because Spain lies on Iberian Peninsula Loses weakened the French Empire Loses weakened the French Empire Nationalism was becoming a powerful weapon against Napoleon Nationalism was becoming a powerful weapon against Napoleon People who welcomed French now felt abused People who welcomed French now felt abused Germans and Italians turned against the French Germans and Italians turned against the French

The Invasion of Russia 1812, Napoleon most disastrous mistake 1812, Napoleon most disastrous mistake French & Russian rulers suspected each other of having competing designs for Poland French & Russian rulers suspected each other of having competing designs for Poland Because of breakdown in alliances, Napoleon decided to invade Russia Because of breakdown in alliances, Napoleon decided to invade Russia June 1812: Napoleon's army (420,000 soldiers) marched into Russia June 1812: Napoleon's army (420,000 soldiers) marched into Russia Alexander (Russian Czar) pulled back his troops refusing to be lured into battle Alexander (Russian Czar) pulled back his troops refusing to be lured into battle Russians practiced a scorched-earth policy Russians practiced a scorched-earth policy Involved burning grain fields and slaughtering live-stock to leave nothing for enemy to eat Involved burning grain fields and slaughtering live-stock to leave nothing for enemy to eat Russians fells back, Allowing Napoleon to move on Moscow but Alexander decided to burn city rather than surrender it Russians fells back, Allowing Napoleon to move on Moscow but Alexander decided to burn city rather than surrender it Upon leaving Russia, many of Napoleons trooped died due to exhaustion, hunger, & cold weather Upon leaving Russia, many of Napoleons trooped died due to exhaustion, hunger, & cold weather

Napoleon’s Downfall All of the main powers of Europe were now at war with France All of the main powers of Europe were now at war with France Napoleon faced the allied armies of Europe outside the German city of Leipzig Napoleon faced the allied armies of Europe outside the German city of Leipzig Jan 1814, allied armies were pushing toward Paris Jan 1814, allied armies were pushing toward Paris April 1814, Napoleon accepted the terms of surrender & gave up throne April 1814, Napoleon accepted the terms of surrender & gave up throne Victors gave Napoleon small pension & banished him to Elba Victors gave Napoleon small pension & banished him to Elba Louis XVIII assumed throne of France Louis XVIII assumed throne of France Became unpopular among France Became unpopular among France Within days, Napoleon becomes emperor again Within days, Napoleon becomes emperor again European allies prepared for battle near village of Waterloo European allies prepared for battle near village of Waterloo Defeat ended Napoleon’s bid for power Defeat ended Napoleon’s bid for power 1821, Napoleon dies of stomach ailment 1821, Napoleon dies of stomach ailment