1. Napoleon’s Empire Collapses
Section 4
Napoleon’s Empire Collapses

2. Napoleon’s Empire Collapses
Desire for power led to his doom
In his efforts to crush Great Britain and extend the French Empire he made three drastic mistakes
1806 -The Continental System-
Napoleon sets up a blockade to prevent trade and communication between the British and the rest of Europe
Supposed to make Europe more self sufficient and destroy Britain commercial and industrial economy
Smugglers and allies in Europe disregarded the blockade
British put up their own blockade and because they had a stronger navy they were more successful
Created resentment toward French by many European countries because of shortages of goods

3. Napoleon’s Empire Collapses
1808- The Peninsular War
Tried to get Portugal to accept the Continental System
Sent invasion force through Spain that Spanish resisted
Inflamed nationalistic feelings across Spain, also worried that Napoleon would weaken the Catholic Church
For six years bands of Spanish guerillas fought against French forces
British also sent aid to the Spanish fighters
Nationalism (loyalty to one’s country) became a weapon used against Napoleon, they felt abused by a foreign conqueror

4. Napoleon’s Empire Collapses
1812- Invasion of Russia
Czar Alexander I of Russia angry about Continental System, withdrew support
Napoleon’s response- assembled huge army to march on Russia (Grand Army)
420,000 soldiers
1812- invaded Russia
Russian soldiers retreated to avoid battle, used scorched earth policy (did not allow Napoleon to feed and supply army)
Had to retreat from Russia, fewer than 10,000 soldiers returned home
Reputation for success shattered

5. Napoleon’s Empire Collapses
All of the main powers of Europe joined forces against Napoleon
1813- Russia, Britain, Prussia, Austria, Sweden defeat Napoleon in the Battle of Leipizg
Napoleon exiled to island of Elba, king restored to power in France (Louis XVIII)
Economic depression, fear of returning to old ways- French want Napoleon back
1815 Escapes from Elba, returns to France
Rules for 100 days
June 1815 defeated at Battle of Waterloo (Belgium), sent into exile again
Napoleon died in 1821

6. Napoleon’s Empire Collapses
Napoleon and his French empire caused many changes in France and Europe
The laws of the Napoleonic Code were kept in many countries. It is the basis for many European countries laws even today
France became a republic with a constitution
French people had greater access to education and rights to property
Conquests spread the ideas of the French Revolution, such as equality of all men, self rule, individual rights.
Nationalist feelings and movements in many parts of Europe.

7. Section 5
The Congress of Vienna

8. The Congress of Vienna
After the defeat of Napoleon European countries wanted peace and stability
Great Britain, Austria, Russia, Prussia and France met in Vienna, Austria
Met before Napoleon’s final defeat at Waterloo
Most influential person at the meetings was Klemens von Metternich the foreign minister of Austria
Metternich's three goals for the Congress of Vienna
To prevent future French aggression by surrounding them by stronger countries
Wanted to achieve a balance of power across Europe so one country would not dominate another
Wanted to restore the royal families of Europe to their thrones

9. The Congress of Vienna Containment of France Balance of power
Made weaker countries that surrounded France stronger by uniting them or giving them more territory
France could not over power its weaker neighbors
Balance of power
They did not want to weaken France too much because they did not want them to take revenge on the rest of Europe
Legitimacy
Ruling families were restored to the throne in many countries
Wanted to stabilize political relations between the countries

10. The Congress of Vienna After the Congress of Vienna,
European countries began to cooperate to control political affairs
Victory for the conservative forces because kings and princes regained their power
Britain and France became constitutional monarchies (authority was controlled by a legislative body and the king had symbolic power)
Russia, Prussia and Austria had absolute monarchs
Power of Britain and Prussia increased
Created a time of peace in Europe
There was not another great war in Europe for 100 years (World War I)

11. The Congress of Vienna
Rulers of many countries were worried about the effects of the French Revolution (ideas of liberty, equality, democracy)
Rulers of Prussia, Austria and Russia signed an agreement called the Holy Alliance to combat the forces of revolution
Metternich devised a series of alliances called the Concert of Europe to insure that nations would help each other out if revolutions broke out
Established to enforce rules of Congress
Ideas of the French Revolution and nationalism did spread across Europe in the 1830’s and 1840’s
Areas that the Congress put under foreign control saw a rise in nationalism
Ideas about the the basis of power had changed as a result of the French Revolution
Many saw democracy as the best way to ensure equality and justice for all