1. French Empire Collapses
Napoleon’s ambitions and desire for power create a vast empire …. & lead to his fall from power
Three major mistakes:
Continental System
Peninsular War
Invasion of Russia

2. Continental System Designed to Isolate Britain, destroy its economy
Make Europe self-sufficient
British ships not allowed in European ports
Britain set up its own blockade – stopped & searched ships heading to European continent
US gets very upset about this & declares war on Britain – the War of 1812

3. Peninsular War
France goes to war with Spain after France invades Spain to get to Portugal, which refuses to follow the Continental System
(Called Peninsular war because Spain is located on the Iberian Peninsula)
Spanish resist - don’t want French troops there & fear what changes Napoleon will make
Napoleon replaces Spanish King with his brother
Bands of Spanish guerilla fighters attack French troops
Britain sends help to Spain
Huge military losses weaken Napoleon’s power & the French Empire

4. Invasion of Russia Most disastrous mistake!
Russian Czar Alexander I refused to stop selling grain to Britain
Both leaders suspect the other one wants to conquer Poland
Napoleon decides to attack Russia
400, ,000 (different # from different sources) French troops march into Russia – only 10,000 make it back alive
Russians used “scorched-earth” tactic to defeat the French
As the French advanced – Russians pulled back, burned everything & killed livestock to eliminate food for the French troops

5. Invasion of Russia
After a battle in Borodino, Napoleon makes it to Moscow
Czar Alexander I had burned the whole city
Napoleon makes a fatal mistake by staying there too long
By the time he & his troops headed home, the Russian winter had begun – Russian winters are brutal – downfall of many!!
Exhausted, hungry, cold, tired French soldiers were continuously attacked by Russians on their journey home
Many also died from exposure, wounds, hunger, etc.
Napoleon’s enemies seize the opportunity to attack

6. Napoleon’s Downfall
European powers - Britain, Russia, Prussia, Austria & Sweden join forces against Napoleon & declare war on France
Napoleon raises an army, but it’s not very well trained
He’s defeated in Germany, and allied countries head to Paris
Napoleon surrenders, gives up the throne & is exiled to Elba, a tiny island off the Italian coast
Louis XVI’s brother (Louis XVIII) takes the throne
French are unhappy with his rule & fear he’ll remove the revolutionary reforms

7. Napoleon’s Downfall Of course Napoleon seizes this opportunity!!!
Escapes from Elba, marches to France & is greeted by cheering crowds
Men volunteer to fight for him & before long – he is emperor once more!
Allied European powers pull their armies back together
Napoleon’s troops battle British troops in Waterloo, Belgium
When the Prussian troops arrive, Napoleon is done for
This time period is called the “Hundred Days”

8. Napoleon’s Downfall Of course Napoleon seizes this opportunity!!!
Escapes from Elba, marches to France & is greeted by cheering crowds
Men volunteer to fight for him & before long – he is emperor once more!
Allied European powers pull their armies back together
Napoleon’s troops battle British troops in Waterloo, Belgium
When the Prussian troops arrive, Napoleon is done for
This time period is called the “Hundred Days”

9. Napoleon’s Downfall
European powers ship him off to St. Helena – remote island in the South Atlantic
He lived for 6 years, wrote his memoirs & died mostly likely from cancer
The effects of Napoleon’s power grabs & the French Revolution were a spread of Liberalism, Nationalism & the concept of maintaining a “balance of power” in Europe

10. Effects of Revolution & Napoleon Liberalism
After France’s defeat, Europe’s major powers held the “Congress of Vienna” to make changes that would stabilize Europe & maintain peace (early version of the UN)
They restored the monarchs who were removed by Napoleon
Going back to what was – conservatism (on the right)
Sought to quell ideas of democracy
It was too late – people got a taste of democracy & enlightenment ideas
Liberty, equality, rulers sharing power with people
Numerous revolutions occurred in European colonies
This legacy of democracy began a movement of change across the globe – liberalism (on the left)

11. Effects of Revolution & Napoleon Balance of Power
At the Congress, leaders also wanted to prevent any one country from becoming as powerful as France had become
Also want to weaken France
Concept of “balance of power” is born – all countries should have around the same amount of power
They reinstated monarchs
Combined some countries to make them stronger
Their efforts lasted for 40 years – which is considered success

12. Effects of Revolution & Napoleon Nationalism
Nationalism = loyalty to your country
At first, many countries welcomed the French
However over time, they resented Napoleon’s rule over them, which fueled their loyalty to their own country
In addition, some of the changes the Congress implemented made nations mad that they were under the control of another country.
This also fueled nationalistic pride, made people want their country to be independent – and started revolutions.