1. Napoleon’s Empire Collapses

2. The Continental System
Nov 1806 he set up a blockade: forcible closing of ports; to stop all trade and communication between Great Britain and Europe
Called this policy the Continental System because it was supposed to make Continental Europe more self-sufficient; also intended to destroy Great Britain’s commercial and industrial economy
Blockade wasn’t tight enough-smugglers got through, and some allies disregarded it
Britain set up a blockade of their own, stronger navy

3. The Peninsular War
1808 sent troops through Spain to attack Portugal, to get them to accept Continental System
Spanish ppl protested, so Napoleon removed king and replaced him w his brother Joseph
Inflamed nationalistic feelings
6 years bands of Spanish peasant fighters, known as guerillas, struck at French armies in Spain
Britain sent troops to aid the Spanish; Napoleon lost 300,000 in Peninsular War
Weakened French empire; nationalism (loyalty to one’s own country) was growing throughout Europe

4. The Invasion of Russia
1812 Napoleon decided to invade Russia bc Alexander I had refused to stop selling grain to Britain, and rulers fought over Poland, breakdown in alliance
June 1812 Napoleon marched his Grand Army into Russia, 420,000 soldiers
Russians retreated, practiced a scorched-earth policy: burn grain, kill animals so nothing left to enemy
Sept 7, 1812 armies fought at Battle of Borodino; Russians fell back, allowed French to take Moscow, which they had left in flames, destroyed rather than surrender it
French head back but winter approached, many died of cold, hunger, exhaustion, etc.
Only 10,000 left Russia of the 420,000

5. Napoleon’s Downfall
Britain, Austria, Prussia, Sweden, and Russia joined to fight France, exploit weakness
Napoleon raised another army but not prepared
Oct 1813 fought at Leipzig, lost
Jan 1814 allied armies pushing to Paris
April 1814 Napoleon wanted to fight on but his generals refused, surrendered, gave up throne, exiled to island of Elba

6. The One Hundred Days
Louis XVI’s brother assumed the throne as Louis XVII: unpopular
Napoleon escaped Elba, March 1, 1815 landed in France, emperor again, volunteer army
British army, led by Duke of Wellington, prepared for battle near village of Waterloo in Belgium
June 18, 1815 Napoleon attacked, lost when Prussia joined Britain
The Hundred Days: Napoleon’s last bid for power
He was exiled to St Helena, died in 1821 of cancer

7. The Congress of Vienna
European rulers wanted to set up long standing peace after Napoleon was gone-series of meetings were called to set up policies to achieve goal of collective security and stability for the continent: Congress of Vienna; lasted 8 months!
Winter of representatives of the five “great powers” Russia, Prussia, Austria, Great Britain, and France met
Most influential was foreign minister of Austria: Prince Klemens von Metternich
He distrusted French revolution’s democratic ideals, wanted to keep things the way they were
3 goals…

8. Three Goals… 1) The Containment of France
Many steps taken, for example: Switzerland became independent, German states joined to create German confederation
2) Balance of Power
Made countries equal in power
3) Legitimacy
Rulers affirmed principle of legitimacy: as many as possible of the rulers Napoleon got rid of were to be restored to power (ex France, Spain, Italy)

9. Long Term Legacies Congress of Vienna was Political Triumph
no war for 40 yrs
first time nations of an entire continent cooperated to control political affairs, settlements fair so no grudges, agreed to come to one another’s aid in cases of threats to peace
Influenced world politics for the next 100 years
France’s power decreased while Britain and Prussia’s increased
Nationalism spread, led to revolutions
European colonies took advantage and broke away for independence
Ideas about power and authority changed by French Rev